The Court Clears Karzacan detainees
On 13 October 2009, and after almost a year and a half in detention,
the nineteen Karzacan detainees accused of killing a policeman during
riots were acquitted by the Court. The decision by Judge Sheikh
Mohammed bin Ali Al-Khalifa has triggered a positive response towards
both the judge and the judicial system. According to all commentators,
the trial proved the independence of the Bahrain’s judiciary to
the world and has rightfully earned the trust of citizens.
Lawyer Mohammad Al-Tajir, head of the defence team, commented
on the verdict saying ‘it addressed the heart of the matter and
was an honest and professional decision as the judge was not influenced
by any external political circumstances’. He pointed to the independence
of the judiciary which led to a fair verdict after having carefully
considered the merits of the case. On the other hand, the lawyer
and former MP Fareed Ghazi stated: ‘some might be surprised by the
court’s rulings, but they are based on the evidence presented to
the court’.
|
