Bahraini Court frees Khalil Al-Marzooq, but charges remain

A Bahraini criminal court released prominent Shiite opposition figure Khalil Al-Marzooq at the start of his trial on 24 October, but did not drop the charges against him (GSN 955/5). Al-Marzooq was arrested on 17 September and charged with inciting terrorist acts. He had been held in detention since his arrest. Al-Marzooq, a political assistant to the secretary-general of the Al-Wefaq opposition society, appeared in court in the presence of his lawyers and observers from several foreign embassies.According to a statement on the Al-Wefaq website, Al-Marzooq told the court that he had been mistreated while being transferred in handcuffs to the Public Prosecution Office, and that he was prevented from praying before his interrogation on 17 September.