Court strips Bahrain prince of immunity

The High Court in the UK has stripped Bahrain’s Prince Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa of immunity from prosecution over allegations of involvement in torturing protesters.

A judge at the London-based court announced on Tuesday the annulment of a previous ruling by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) that gave the Bahraini prince the special privilege. The case against Prince Nasser was launched in British courts in 2012.

The CPS had previously said that the Bahraini prince could not be investigated over allegations of being involved in the torture of Bahraini protesters in 2011. The prosecution service decided that the son of the King of Bahrain has immunity as commander of the Royal Guard of Bahrain and cannot be prosecuted.

The court ruling, however, was overturned on Tuesday following a review requested by a Bahraini torture survivor, identified as FF. The Bahraini protester challenged the ruling and brought a judicial review in an effort to prove that the CPS decision on immunity was “erroneous in law.”

The Bahraini figure says he was beaten and given a jail term after participating in anti-regime protests in Bahrain in February 2011.

FF’s lawyers have been seeking the arrest and prosecution of Prince Nasser, who travels regularly to the UK.

The move has been hailed by the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy campaign group.

“It is a victory for the people of Bahrain,” said Sayed al-Wadaei, the director of advocacy at the campaign group, adding, “The day of accountability has come for Bahrain.”

The Manama regime has denied the allegations, calling them politically motivated.

A large number of protesters and activists have been detained in Bahrain since the uprising began in 2011.

Thousands of protesters have held numerous demonstrations in the streets of Bahrain since mid-February 2011, calling for the Al Khalifa royal family to relinquish power.

IA/HSN/SS