Bahrain's King Pardons 225 Prisoners

Manama, Bahrain (AHN) - Rioters and those involved in acts of vandalism were among 225 prisoners pardoned by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on Wednesday following a meeting with this country's religious leaders.

Col. Mohammed Rashid Bu Hamood, the assistant undersecretary for legal affairs at the ministry of interior, said the prisoners included 151 convicts and 74 suspects. The men are expected to be released after formalities on Thursday.

Others included under the royal amnesty are detainees arrested in December following the unrest and anti-government protests in some Shia-dominant villages. Bu Hamood said that Shaikh Abdul Aziz bin Attiyattallah Al Khalifa, whose private farm was vandalized by rioters, had also dropped charges against the youths arrested in connection with the acts.

The pardon comes before the start of the holy month of Ramadan on Sept. 1. The state run Bahrain News Agency said the king's pardon aimed at reuniting the men with their families and spreading national unity by giving them a chance to participate in the development of nation.

Mahmood Abdul Aziz Al Yousif, one of the prisoners to be released, said he was arrested in Sanabis village for sabotaging public property and exploding a gas cylinder. Al Yousif, who is a minor, said there was a network of youth who called each other to discuss their plans before gathering. He thanked King Hamad for the gesture and promised to never to commit such acts again.