Bahrain: Dissidents among 450 prisoners released following royal pardon

Scores of prisoners were released from a notorious Bahrain prison on Thursday following a royal pardon of more than 450 inmates, including dissidents detained following a crackdown on Shia-led protests from 2011.

Videos shared on social media showed tearful reunions in a courtyard outside Jau prison, where women waited to spot their sons and husbands among those freed.

Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa issued a royal decree pardoning 457 inmates to foster "social cohesion" and celebrate his 25 years on the throne, the official Bahrain News Agency said late on Wednesday.

The move came five months after a pardon of more than 1,500 inmates - the biggest in years - as the tiny Gulf state moves to ease lingering tensions from its crushing of Arab Spring pro-democracy protests.

Bahrain denies holding political prisoners, although scores of dissidents have been detained since the protests were put down by the authorities, backed by a Saudi military force.

BNA did not specify who was pardoned but the Britain-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) said political prisoners were included in the latest releases, which started on Thursday.

BIRD's advocacy director Sayed Alwadaei said around 100 inmates have been freed so far, calling the pardon "a significant step forward".

He said among those released was Bahraini dissident Ali Sanqoor, detained more than a decade ago after he was pictured standing topless, arms outstretched, facing oncoming tanks.

'Mothers are waiting'

Families of the freed inmates where contacted by authorities to inform them of the releases. But even those who didn't receive a call made their way to the prison, hoping their loved ones would also be set free.

"We went to Jau to check if my son's name was on the list," said one mother, who waited in vain for two hours outside the facility which was surrounded by checkpoints and a heavy police deployment.

"Many mothers are waiting. Ever since the pardon was issued we have not slept a wink, waiting for a call or some news," she told AFP on the condition of anonymity fearing reprisal.

Fatima Abdulhasan, whose 39-year-old son has been held in Jau since 2011 and was sentenced to life in prison, was also left waiting.

"Since yesterday, I have not closed my eyes to sleep," she told AFP. "Why is it that some people are allowed joy while our hearts continue to be shattered?"

"I am in pain. Since last night until now, there are tears on my cheeks," she added.

The latest pardon came weeks after three independent UN rights experts called on the Bahraini authorities to guarantee the rights of inmates after allegations of punitive conditions in Jau.

In an August report, the experts said they had received "worrying allegations" that inmates there had been refused medical attention as well as regular access to food and drinking water - charges the Bahraini government has denied.

Last year, hundreds of inmates staged a 36-day-long hunger strike to protest jail conditions, according to activists. Bahraini authorities said the number of hunger strikers was much smaller.

Bahrain is a key regional ally of the United States and is home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet.

The latest pardon comes as Bahrain's Sunni monarchy works to improve ties with Shia-led Iran.