Manama- Bahrain’s national center for communication confirmed Wednesday that the military judiciary is, for the first time since the constitutional amendment, trying three terror suspects.

The National Communications Centre (NCC) said the military judiciary will consider a case against three individuals. All three are accused of committing terrorist crimes related to planning to target military installations and Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) personnel.

One of the suspects is of military background, while the other two are not.

Bahraini Council of Representatives, the lower house of parliament, had approved in February a constitutional amendment allowing for civilians involved in terror incidents or attacks on security or military personnel or facilities to be tried in martial courts.

This is in accordance with the rules of jurisdiction pursuant to the provisions of Law No. 12 of 2017, amending certain provisions of the Military Justice Law, which provides jurisdiction for the military judiciary to try crimes committed on premises and facilities under the control of the Bahrain Defense Force and its property or against its employees.

These trials are exceptional and limited to cases where it is deemed necessary and justified by objective and serious reasons and with regard to terror cases and offenses involving or targeting military personnel or installations.

The amendment is perceived as central for countering attacks on military and security personnel and facilities in the Kingdom.

Security and military personnel have been facing growing attacks from the terror groups which prompted the lawmakers to take an action to protect Interior Ministry. Martial courts in Bahrain provide guarantees for fair trials similar to those given by civilian courts.