Bahrain's King Issues Pardons, Reaffirms Commitment to Unity and Forgiveness

MANAMA, Bahrain, Aug. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In an address to the nation last night, His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain announced pardons for many political protesters and urged the reinstatement of employees in an effort to uphold the country's spirit of unity.

"We would like to emphasize that we do not anticipate putting everyone on trial," His Majesty King Hamad said. "There are those who were charged with abusing us and senior officials in Bahrain, and we today announce that we forgive them as we hope that they understand that abusing us and others in fact offends everyone and achieves nothing."

His Majesty the King stressed that the government's aim is for "tolerance and for shunning violence, and not for excessive punishment that affects our unity, cohesion and national co-existence," in a speech broadcast Sunday on Bahrain TV.

His Majesty the King's address, marking the last ten days of Ramadan, followed the reinstatement of more than 400 Bahraini students who were suspended earlier this year. Reflecting on Ramadan, His Majesty King Hamad noted that the religious observance has "made us all recall our traditional interactions, compassion and fraternity," while he hopes Bahrain "will witness a new stage of outstanding productivity, cohesion and stability as our reforms move forward."

SOURCE Kingdom of Bahrain

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