MANAMA (Reuters) – a prominent Bahrain human rights activist went on military trial on Thursday, his daughters said, after the Gulf Arab Kingdom launched a penalty on the demonstrators.
The Sunni-led Bahrain experienced the worst unrest since 1990 in the last two months when the demonstrators, mainly from the country's namely Shi'ite majority, took to the streets as Arab uprisings spread throughout the region.
The demonstrations prompted Bahrain King to introduce a State of emergency and invite troops from the Sunni-ruled neighbors.
Abdulhadi al-Mohammed were arrested with two sons-in-law earlier this month as part of a Government penalty enforced with checkpoints across the city and villages namely Shi'ite.
Hundreds of people, many of them opposition activists and politicians, have been arrested. The Government says only those who are accused of committing crimes have been arrested, and that all allegations will be investigated.
"Legal proceedings against him (Mohammed) was started today but we family members were not allowed to enter the Court. I do not know what charges are brought against him, "said his daughter Zainab al-Mohammed.
"My father called in the evening. He is not fine. I think he has a foot injury, because he barely able to speak, "she said.
"He kept saying repression is great," said Mohammed, who on Thursday stopped a week-long hunger strike to demand the release of her family members.
Mohammed, are fine in exile for twelve years before he was allowed to return under a general amnesty for a few years ago, was severely beaten after his arrest, said Bahrain Centre for human rights.
He had been imprisoned for political disagreement in 2004 and later pardoned by the King.
A rolling penalty has targeted Bahrainis, who participated in the weeks street protests calling for more freedoms, an end to discrimination and a constitutional monarchy in the island State, which is a U.S.-ally and home to the United States's fifth fleet.
Head of Gulf forces called by Bahrain, Maj. Gen. Mutlaq bin Salem al-Azaima, denied allegations by some namely Shi'ite activists to his men to suppress the opposition or to attack namely Shi'ite mosques.
"We challenge anyone to prove that we entered any street or injure a citizen or resident. The force will not interfere in to bring order or (do) what is sought to destroy mosques, "he said in comments made by Bahrain governmental media.
United States and other Western countries have expressed muted criticism but mainly kept quiet because of the strategic importance of Gulf oil-producing region.
Nervous namely Shi'ite-led uprising to neighbouring countries, in particular the Sunni Saudi Arabia who feared protests spread further and embolden own Shi'ites in the Eastern Province, home to most of the country's large oil resources.
Gulf Arab rulers have accused non-Arab namely Shi'ite Iran interference in Bahrain after it condemned the punishment and accused Saudi Arabia of "playing with fire" in the region. Shiites make up at least 60 percent of Bahrain, indigenous population of approximately 600,001.
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