( CNN ) -- A human rights activist who was active in Bahrain 's pro-democracy street protests appeared Sunday before a special military court showing signs of ill-treatment and perhaps torture , Human Rights Watch said Tuesday . Abdulhadi al-Khawaja was one of 14 defendants , most of them active with opposition political movements , who were charged with seeking to `` topple the regime forcibly in collaboration with a terrorist organization working for a foreign country , '' Human Rights Watch said in a statement . The human rights group said al-Khawaja 's wife and daughter spoke with him briefly after the court session , which was the first time they had been allowed to see him since April 9 , when he was arrested and beaten . They said that they could see a number of injuries to his face , and that he told them he had suffered four fractures to his face , including one to his jaw that required four hours of surgery , the rights group said . `` It appears that Abdulhadi al-Khawaja 's jailers tortured him during the month they held him in incommunicado detention , '' said Joe Stork , deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch . `` Torture or ill-treatment is a serious crime , and Bahraini officials who did or authorized this treatment need to be held accountable , '' Stork said . Human Rights Watch said it has documented the routine use of torture by Bahraini security officials during similar interrogations in political and security-related cases . To give time for defendants to prepare their defenses or appoint their lawyers , Bahrain 's National Safety Lower Court postponed the resumption of their trial until May 12 , the rights group said . The military prosecutor brought the case against al-Khawaja , and the case is being overseen by a military judge . Bahrain 's police and military have operated under a `` state of national safety '' since March 15 . The defendants appeared before the special court with al-Khawaja ; seven others are being tried in absentia , Human Rights Watch said . Before Sunday 's court session , Bahrain 's military public prosecutor , Col. Yusif Rashid Feleyfel , formed a committee composed of public prosecutors who questioned the 14 suspects , the state-run Bahrain News Agency ( BNA ) said . The agency said the defendants are accused of crimes that include `` organizing and managing a terrorist group for the overthrow and the change of the country 's constitution and the royal rule , '' `` the seeking and correspondence with a terrorist organization abroad working for a foreign country to conduct heinous acts against the Kingdom of Bahrain , '' `` an attempt to overthrow and change the country 's constitution and royal rule by force , '' funding a terrorist group , insulting the army , `` broadcasting false news and rumors '' that threatened public security , `` inciting the hatred of a certain sect of people , '' and organizing and participating in rallies without having obtained the proper permits . Two other detainees entered court with limps , the rights group said . `` Sources told Human Rights Watch that when the defendants asked to speak about the abuse they allegedly experienced in detention , security forces forcibly removed them from court , '' it added . Maryam al-Khawaja , Abdulhadi al-Khawaja 's daughter , told Human Rights Watch on Monday that her mother , Khadija al-Mousawi , and sister , Zainab al-Khawaja , met with him for 10 minutes after the initial hearing . `` She said her father had gone on a hunger strike to protest his ill treatment and his lack of access to a lawyer , '' the statement said . `` She also said that he told his wife and daughter that he had been tortured , but could not describe details because the family meetings took place in the presence of security guards . '' The rights group said it had previously received `` credible reports '' that al-Khawaja had been admitted to Bahrain Defense Force Hospital for treatment of injuries for six days . `` One person who claimed to have seen him said he was at that point unrecognizable as a result of apparent beatings in detention , '' it said . But authorities denied on Sunday that he had been hospitalized or that any of the detainees had been tortured , Human Rights Watch said . And BNA called the reports `` fabricated , politically-motivated news . '' Human Rights Watch noted that Bahrain is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights , which prohibits torture , and that Bahrain has ratified the Convention Against Torture . The rights group called on Bahrain to suspend prosecution of civilians in special military courts , to grant them access to lawyers , relatives , and medical care , and to set up an impartial commission to look into allegations of torture . The country is ruled by the Al-Khalifa family , which has been in power since the 18th century . Many protesters are calling for the removal of the royal family , whom they blame for the country 's high unemployment and for running a corrupt government that relies on torture and other harsh measures to clamp down on dissent . Bahrain is an American ally and home to the headquarters of the U.S. Navy 's Fifth Fleet . The Al-Khalifa royal family is Sunni Muslim , but two-thirds of the population are Shiites . In recent years , younger Shiites have staged violent protests to complain about discrimination , unemployment and corruption , and many Shiites say the country 's constitution has done little to improve their condition .
Abulhadi al - Hassan shows possible signs of torture , Human Rights Watch says . His wife and children said they saw him in court Sunday and that he told them of abuse . Two other detainees entered court with limps , Human Rights Watch says .