(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - A brief hearing was held on Tuesday with the presence of 11 defendants, an unnamed judicial source said.

Khawaja, who is on a hunger strike since February 8 and is staying at a military hospital and Mirza al-Mahroos, who was also admitted to hospital, were not present in the court.

Khawaja and Mahroos were asked to show up in court when the retrial is to resume on May 22.

Khawaja and 20 other activists have been convicted of plotting to overthrow the Bahraini regime.

Seven of the opposition figures, including Khawaja, were jailed for life, while 14 others were sentenced to between two and 15 years in prison.

Of the 21 defendants, seven were convicted in absentia and remain at large.

The defendants said they have been tortured in custody and forced to sign confessions.

The kingdom has been the scene of anti-regime demonstrations for more than a year. Regime forces have killed scores of people and arrested thousands more.

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