The 23, along with two more who were being tried in absentia, faced charges of forming an illegal organisation, engaging in and financing terrorism and spreading false and misleading information.

Their release follows a pardon announced by King Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa in response to demands by the Shiite-led opposition, which is pushing for the replacement of the Khalifa dynasty with a constitutional monarchy.Bahraini authorities have called for national dialogue to find a way out of the deadlock.