Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry reiterated its categorical rejection of any attempt to interfere or call into question the integrity and independence of the judicial authority in the country by “any other state regarding any case that is still under examination or has been decided upon.”
It made its statement in response to Qatari criticism of the life sentence issued to three Bahrainis accused of communicating with Doha.
The ministry strongly condemned Doha’s stance following Sunday’s final judgment of the Court of Appeal.
It explained that the sentence was issued in the Qatari spying case and where the court ordered punishments against those who were proven to have committed violations and cooperated with foreign bodies to harm the interests of Bahrain.
The Bahraini Supreme Court of Appeals gave the Public Prosecution the right to move cases against three Qatari officials: former Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim, former adviser to Qatari Amir, Hamad bin Khalifa al-Attyia, and Chairman of al-Jazeera's Board of Directors, Hamad bin Thamir Al Thani.
The Foreign Ministry stressed that such calls are part of the Qatari strategy to distract the public from the isolation it chose for itself and therefore harmed its brotherly people.
“It is not unusual from a country that provides different forms of support for violence, extremism and terrorism, causing instability and tension in the region, as well as its interference in the internal affairs of other countries in disregard of international law, principles and good neighborliness and mutual respect for other countries’ sovereignty and independence,” the statement read.
The Qatar News Agency (QNA) had denounced Bahrain for including its name in Bahrain's political disputes and internal conflicts following the recent verdict against Bahraini citizen Ali Salman in the Qatar spy case, an accusation that Doha denies.
