A court in Bahrain says 138 citizens will be put on trial forallegedlycarrying weapons, attacking police andforming terrorist groups in the tiny Persian Gulf country.
The Manama regime claims that the 138 have played a role in creating what it calls a subversive group dubbed theZulfiqar Brigade in the island state, Bahrains al-Wasat newspaper reported on Tuesday.
TerrorCrimesProsecution Advocate GeneralHamad Shaheensaid the investigation into the case has ended, adding that 86 of the defendants have beendetained.
He further noted that the trial of the 138 will be held on August 23.
Meanwhile, Bahrain judicial officials claimed that some of the defendants have fled abroad and are residing in countries such as Iran and Iraq planning to conduct terrorist actions in Bahrain.
Bahrain has repeatedly made similar accusations against Tehran, saying it has dismantled Iranian-linked cells plotting attacks on its territory.The Islamic Republic, however, has categorically rejected the baselessclaims.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="555"]
Bahraini police leave after dispersing anti-regime protesters during clashes in the village of Shahrakan on April 5, 2016. AFP[/caption]Bahrain, a close ally of the US in the Persian Gulf region, has seen a wave of anti-regime protests since mid-February 2011.
The Al Khalifah regime is engaged in a harsh crackdown on dissent and widespread discrimination against the country's Shia majority.
Scores of people have been killed and hundreds of others injured or arrested in Manmas ongoing repression of free speech.
By Press TV
