New push to free murder suspects
By NOOR TOORANI, Posted on » Wednesday, August 26, 2009

BAHRAINI activists have set themselves a deadline of two months to secure the release of 27 men accused of murdering two Pakistanis, including one policeman.

A coalition of community groups, human rights groups and political organisations has been formed to lobby the government into acquitting them.

Members of the coalition claim there is a lack of evidence pinning the suspects to the crimes.

Nineteen Bahrainis are standing trial at the High Criminal Court for the premeditated murder of Pakist-ani policeman Majid Asghar Ali Baksh when his patrol car was ambushed by Molotov cocktails in Karzakan in April last year.

The men, who denied the charges, are also accused of attemp-ting to murder two other policemen who were with the 24-year-old victim and of rioting.

Another eight are standing trial at the High Criminal Court for allegedly murdering Pakistani Shaikh Mohammed Riaz, 58, when his car was firebombed in Ma'ameer, on March 7.

The defendants, who also deny the charges, are also accused of rioting and arson, in addition to possessing and making Molotov cocktails.

The men's lawyers and supporters argued they should have already been released because they were included in the pardoning of 178 people by His Majesty King Hamad in April.

However, the government later said anyone accused of murder would have to stand trial.

The newly formed coalition includes representatives of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights, civic committees from Ma'ameer and Karza-kan, the Islamic Action Society, Al Haq Movem-ent, Al Wafa Islamic Movement and Bahrain Freedom Movement, in ad-dition to the men's defence teams.

It hopes to pressure authorities into scrapping the trials before they next appear in court in October and is focusing on court testimony, which includes allegations that the men were forced to confess and mistreated in police custody.

The coalition's two main demands are the release and acquittal of the men and it plans to conduct social, legal and political activities over the next few weeks geared towards achieving those goals.

It has also pledged to hold peaceful protests if the demands are not met before the 19 accused of killing a policeman next appear in court on October 13.

The eight accused of killing Mr Riaz, who are aged 17 to 25, are due to appear in court on October 7.

It is understood another two men are wanted in connection with the attack, but are still at large.

Mr Riaz died in hospital on March 21, three weeks after the attack.

Link GDN
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=258340

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