Seeking Calm, Bahrain's Government Lifts Martial Law (Time.com)

By lifting its 13-week martial law decree on Wednesday, Bahrain's government meant to signal the end of a violent crackdown against its Shi'ite opposition - and show a nervous international business community that normality had been restored in the embattled island nation. Instead, however, the day was marked by tear gas attacks on peaceful protesters in the Shi'ite enclave of Sitra. They continued on Thursday and Friday with government forces firing tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters marching on the site of the torn-down Pearl roundabout, as activists elsewhere were called into police stations to face charges of anti-government activity.

Most prominent Shi'ite activists are either missing or behind bars, leaving those remaining to protest the government's attempt to paint a patina of normality over the turmoil that has engulfed the country since February. "Bahrain's not going to go back to normal; that's not going to happen anytime soon," says Joost Hiltermann, deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa at the International Crisis Group. "The lifting of emergency law is done to placate international opinion, which has been very harmful to the business climate in the country." (See photos of the protests in Bahrain.)

Maryam al-Khawaja, head of the foreign relations office at the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, says the crackdown will continue even as the country reopens for business. "Things are not going to change... the [lifting of] martial law is just the government realizing that they need to save some of their tarnished international image."

The biggest reason the regime is looking to quickly restore its tarnished reputation is to ensure that the Bahrain leg of the Formula 1 Grand Prix - arguably the most high-profile international event on the country's calendar - is held later this year. The auto race was supposed to have been held in March, but was postponed as a result of the turmoil. On Friday, the world motor sport's governing body, the FIA, announced it would restore the race to this year's calendar. FIA chief Bernie Ecclestone had told CNN earlier this week, "If it's safe and everything is good, then I think the teams will be happy to support it." In a statement, the FIA said that their decision "reflects the spirit of reconciliation in Bahrain, which is evident from the strong support the race receives from the government and all major parties in Bahrain, including the largest opposition group."

The F1 showpiece isn't the only reason the regime is trying to portray a restoration of normality. Bahrain's role as the Middle East epicenter for foreign investment banking has been threatened by the defection of nervous Western expats and a decrease in foreign investment since violence erupted in downtown's Pearl roundabout in February, and Saudi tanks arrived to violently suppress protests. "A lot of banks are thinking of leaving and relocating, so they have been really worried," Hiltermann says. "Keeping martial law in place is not good for business or for its image. [Bahrain's] reputation has taken a hit and they want to overcome that as much as they can." (See if Obama's Mideast speech will help the reformists in Bahrain.)

Bahrain's Crown Prince, Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, said in a statement Tuesday that military forces had begun withdrawing from the streets of Manama. "As a nation, we face several challenges ahead as we seek to address issues of concern, while continuing efforts to prevent extremism and sectarianism taking hold in Bahrain," he said. "We are seeking to fairly balance out the need to maintain law and order with the desire for freedoms. This will require responsible actions on both sides. Alongside this, the government will be seeking to address key areas where recent events have shown a need for investigation, accountability and change."

His father, King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, said that national dialogue would commence at the beginning of July, "a process that will involve all sections of society, will be fully inclusive and allow the people of Bahrain to participate in their vision for country's future." In his May 19 Middle East policy speech, President Obama had directly addressed himself to Bahrain's rulers, warning that "you can't have a real dialogue when parts of the peaceful opposition are in jail."

The weeks preceding the announcement lifting martial law saw a stepped up effort to silence voices of dissent. Under martial law, the state was legally able to detain citizens for what it deemed anti-government activity, and to try them in closed military courts. At least four Shi'ites have been sentenced to death, accused of injuring or killing police officers. Nabeel Rajab, the outspoken president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, was finally brought in for interrogation last week, as was Mazen Mahdi, one of few Bahraini journalists still allowed to work. MP Matar Ibrahim Matar, considered a friend of the opposition Wefaq movement and arrested in early May, was finally allowed to call home this week, though he remains in jail. Ali al-Salman, Wefaq's head, told Reuters that his organization was not against the regime, signaling that the opposition that has finally bowed to government pressure. (See photos of the crackdown in Bahrain.)

"The government escalated and continued with oppressive measures to stamp out any opposition before the lifting of martial law," says Shadi Hamid, research director at the Brookings Doha Institute. "There are these last pockets of dissent that are now being crushed. Everyone's been silenced." The Human Rights Center's al-Khawaja says hers was the last group left to speak out - "everyone else has been captured or is in hiding abroad." Her sister, Zainad, became one of the country's most famous female activists when she staged a hunger strike following the arrests of her father, brother, husband and uncle. On Thursday, she headed to the police station for a final summons.

Even with the lifting of martial law, as reports of torture continue to pour out of Manama, it remains to be seen how Bahrain will deal with the leaders and activists still awaiting persecution. "They won't have the trappings now that will allow them to try people in military courts," Hiltermann says. "But they can still bring people in, intimidate them, cow them. There's a lot of things you can do under regular law. The question to me is whether the people who were charged under martial law will still be tried in these courts after the law is lifted. That will tell us much about how the government intends to go forward with this."

See how Bahrain is stuck in between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

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Bahrain's king orders end to emergency law

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Bahrain's king set a fast-track timetable to end martial law-style rule Sunday in a bid to display confidence that authorities have smothered a pro-reform uprising even as rights groups denounced the hard-line measures.

The announcement to lift emergency rule two-weeks early on June 1 came just hours after the start of a closed-door trial accusing activists of plotting to overthrow the Gulf state's rulers.

The decision appears part of Bahrain's aggressive international campaign to reassure financial markets and win back high-profile events. They include the coveted Formula One grand prix that was canceled in March amid deadly clashes and protests by the country's majority Shiites, who are seeking greater rights and freedoms.

But the massive crackdown has come at a high price in the strategic island nation, which hosts the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.

At least 30 people have been killed since the protests began in February, inspired by revolts against autocratic leaders in Tunisia and Egypt. But tiny Bahrain also carries a volatile demographic mix. Shiites account for about 70 percent of the population, but claim widespread discrimination and are denied top posts in the government and security forces.

Tensions in the Gulf have soared between Shiite power Iran and the Sunni Arab rulers backing Bahrain. Iran has sharply condemned the three-month emergency rule imposed March 15 just as a 1,500-strong Saudi-led force arrived in Bahrain to support the monarchy. Gulf leaders, in turn, have strongly warned Iran to halt meddling in their affairs.

Meanwhile, watchdog groups — including the top U.N. rights agency — have accused Bahraini authorities of overstepping their bounds with closed-door trials and mass detentions of hundreds of protesters, activists and others. A major America labor organization, the AFL-CIO, is asking Washington to withdraw from a free-trade pact with Bahrain as punishment for pressuring Shiite-led unions.

U.S. official have tried to straddle two objectives: rapping Bahrain's leaders for violence and urging for reforms, but making sure there are no serious cracks in one of Washington's most important military alliance in the Gulf.

The declaration to remove the emergency rule gave no details of what would take its place, including whether the nighttime curfew would end or if the numerous checkpoints would be dismantled. Last month, Bahrain's foreign minister said the Saudi-led reinforcements would remain as long as there are perceived threats from Iran.

The latest indication of Bahrain's Iran worries came Sunday when 21 opposition leaders and political activists went on trial in a special security court set up under the emergency rule, which gives the military sweeping powers.

The suspects — 14 in custody and the others charged in absentia — are accused of attempting to overthrow the 200-year-old Sunni dynasty and having links to "a terrorist organization abroad working for a foreign country." No additional details were made public, but Bahrain's leaders have claimed that Lebanon's Iranian-backed Shiite militant group Hezbollah is involved in Bahrain's protests.

Lawyers for those in custody entered not guilty pleas. Nabeel Rajab, president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, said the closed-door proceedings violated international standards for a fair trial.

Late last month, the security court sentenced four protesters to death for killing two policemen in the unrest. Three other opposition supporters were convicted as accomplices in the murders and were sentenced to life in prison.

Among those charged on Sunday are senior Shiite opposition leaders such as Hassan Mushaima, the leader of Al Haq movement, and some of its senior members including Abdul Jalil al-Singace. Mushaima and al-Singace were among the first political leaders taken into custody after emergency rule was imposed.

Also among the suspects: Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, the kingdom's leading human rights activist; Ibrahim Sharif, a prominent Sunni reform leader, and Ali Abdul Emam, a blogger and founder of a popular discussion forum known as Bahrain-On-Line. Al-Khawaja was beaten unconscious by police in his house in the outskirts of the capital, Manama, according to relatives who witnessed the raid.

Last week, authorities charged 23 doctors and 24 nurses with participating in illegal rallies or attempts to topple the ruling Al Khalifa family.

Some of the medical staff who treated protesters during the unprecedented political unrest will be tried in the same security court. Only select journalists are allowed to cover the trials after authorities put a gag order on legal proceedings against suspected opposition supporters.

Later this month, three former top editors of Bahrain's main opposition newspaper, Al Wasat, will be tried in a criminal court after authorities accused them of unethical coverage of the protests.

Al Wasat was to shut down Sunday, but the paper's board decided to continue publishing despite a significant drop in circulation and revenue since the three editors were forced to resign in April.

The political turmoil forced Bahrain's crown prince, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, to call off the Bahrain Grand Prix scheduled for March 13.

Last week, Formula One's governing body gave Bahrain until June 3 to decide if a new date could be set for this year. The task of persuading F1 overseers may be tough, however.

In an interview posted on the official F1 website, the sport's boss Bernie Ecclestone said officials would need "a guarantee that there won't be any problems" in Bahrain.

"But right now, I don't know how anybody could guarantee that because it might be peaceful now, but who knows in the future," he added.

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Bahrain's king to lift state of emergency

King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa of Bahrain, pictured at Safriyah Palace in Bahrain on March 12, 2011.NEW: State media: Trial begins for 21 suspects accused of "attempts to topple the regime"A state of emergency that has been in place since March will be lifted June 1, the king saysWitnesses say it allowed a government crackdown on protestersDemonstrators in Bahrain have complained about unemployment and corruption

(CNN) -- The king of Bahrain has decreed that the country's state of emergency will end June 1, state media reported Sunday.

Massive anti-government protests prompted King Hamad al-Khalifa's March 15 declaration of a three-month state of emergency in Bahrain, a strategically important kingdom and U.S. ally.

Witnesses reported violent crackdowns on protesters after the state of emergency was imposed.

Meanwhile, a trial has started for 21 suspects accused of fostering the unrest, the official Bahrain News Agency reported Sunday. A hard-line Shiite opposition group and a leading human rights activist were among those on trial.

The suspects face accusations of "terrorist attempts to topple the regime forcibly in collaboration with a terrorist organization working for a foreign country," the government-run news agency said.

Human rights groups said forces have raided hospitals, targeting doctors and patients, during the state of emergency.

More than 40 doctors and nurses faced prosecution last week on charges that included having supported "the saboteurs and the calls to bring down the political regime," the news agency said.

Government officials in Bahrain denied targeting hospitals.

The protests started in February, when young members of the country's Shiite Muslim majority staged protests to complain about discrimination, unemployment and corruption -- issues they say the country's Sunni rulers have done little to address.

Bahrain's ruling Khalifa family is Sunni Muslim, but about two-thirds of the country's people are Shiite.

Hard-line protesters have called for the abolition of the country's royal family altogether.

Bahrain is home to the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, the naval arm of American power in the region.

In a speech last month, the country's crown prince defended the government's actions.

"We were immensely concerned that some of our youth were pushed towards a destructive path and that the nation was drawn along with them," Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifasaid, according to an official transcript.

"We took necessary action to preserve lives and the livelihood and interests of all the people, based on our commitment to Islamic and Arab values," he said.

CNN's Jennifer Fenton contributed to this report.

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