BAHRAIN’S king pardoned 457 prisoners on Wednesday night to mark his 25th anniversary as the island nation’s ruler, with one activist saying many of those freed appeared to be political prisoners.

The announcement by the Bahrain News Agency marks another mass release of prisoners in a country that has experienced repeated crackdowns on all dissent.

There was no list of names of the prisoners released by the order of King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, who has ruled Bahrain first as its emir since 1999 before Bahrain became a kingdom in 2002.

Bahrain’s government said that the pardon “further demonstrates Bahrain’s commitment to criminal justice, with an opportunity today for over 450 individuals to positively reintegrate back into society.”

Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, the director of advocacy for the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy, described many as being political prisoners now freed from the Jaw Rehabilitation and Reform Centre. 

The prison has seen demonstrations and hunger strikes by prisoners over conditions.

Mr Alwadaei said: “Authorities have been meeting with hundreds, saying to them they would be released very soon. 

“It seems to be targeting mostly political prisoners.”

He said: “This is a really optimistic step, and it does seem to be also coming within a regional context where Bahrain is trying to normalise with Iran.”