All doctors and paramedical staff who had been taken into custody in Bahrain following the unrest earlier this year have been released on bail.
Seven doctors and three ambulance staff were released from prison on bail on Wednesday pending the announcement of verdicts in their cases on 29th September.
The National Safety Lower court said the decision to free the doctors on bail was made following a request from their lawyers.
Charges against the doctors and medical staff include possession of unlicensed weapons, inciting the overthrow of the Government, provoking sectarian hatred, and forceful occupation of a public building.
The Military Public Prosecutor, Yusuf Rashid Flaifel, said the court listened to the defendant’s witnesses and decided to adjourn the trial until 29th September. He said defendants’ lawyers must present final pleadings before 19th September.
Wednesday’s court session was attended by representatives of local and international human rights organizations and the media, as well as a number of the defendants’ families.
On Tuesday, the Military Public Prosecutor adjourned the trial of 21 Bahrainis accused of an abortive coup d’etat against the Bahrain Government. The National Safety Court of Appeal heard the demands of the defendants’ lawyers and decided to adjourn the trial until 28th September for an announcement of the Court’s verdict.
Felony cases already underway at the First Instance Court of National Safety will be completed in that court before being transferred to the ordinary civilian courts for appeal. Felony cases that were in process at the time of the judicial recess in the National Safety Courts will return to that court for completion before being moved to civilian courts for appeal.
All misdemeanor cases have already been transferred from the National Safety Courts to the civilian court system.
All defendants and the prosecution can appeal decisions made in the National Safety Courts by filing an appeal with the Civilian Court of Cassation.