Political prisoners walk free as Bahrain pardons 457 prisoners

Dozens of prisoners were freed from a Bahraini prison on Thursday following a royal pardon of over 450 inmates, including political prisoners arrested during the 2011 protest crackdown.

Videos shared on social media captured emotional reunions outside Jau prison, where women awaited the release of their sons and husbands.

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa issued a decree pardoning 457 prisoners to promote “social cohesion” and mark his 25th anniversary on the throne, according to the official Bahrain News Agency (BNA).

This pardon follows another five months ago when over 1,500 inmates were released in the largest amnesty in years, as Bahrain seeks to ease tensions stemming from its suppression of 2011 protests. While the government denies holding political prisoners, many have been detained since the protests.

Although BNA did not provide details on who was pardoned, the UK-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) confirmed that political prisoners were released, with around 100 inmates freed so far.