Bahrain's King Pardons 457 Prisoners, Including Political Activists

King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain pardoned 457 prisoners to mark his 25th anniversary as ruler. The release includes many political prisoners from the Jaw Rehabilitation and Reform Center. The move aims to address activists' complaints and ease regional tensions, particularly with Iran.

On Wednesday night, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa pardoned 457 prisoners in celebration of his 25th anniversary as the island nation's ruler. Among the freed were numerous political prisoners, a move observed by some as an effort to ease regional tensions.

The state-run Bahrain News Agency announced the mass release, although it did not provide a list of names. The government has faced repeated crackdowns on dissent since the Arab Spring protests in 2011. Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei of the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy noted that many of those released were political prisoners held at the Jaw Rehabilitation and Reform Center.

The pardon underscores Bahrain's commitment to criminal justice and offers over 450 individuals a chance to reintegrate into society. Notably, this follows an April pardon of 1,584 prisoners, which included over 650 political detainees. The action appears to be part of Bahrain's broader efforts to normalize relations with Iran.

(With inputs from agencies.)