Bahrain’s High Criminal Court issued on Tuesday rulings in two separate cases, convicting three defendants of joining a terrorist group and working for it to carry out hostile and terrorist acts against the kingdom and harm its interests.
The court sentenced all three defendants to 15 years in prison, fined two of them BD2,000 each, and ordered the confiscation of the seized items, a statement by the Deputy Chief Prosecutor for Terrorism Crimes said according to Bahrain’s state news agency BNA.
An investigations established that the defendants had joined a terrorist group seeking to carry out plans targeting Bahrain with the aim of disrupting public order and undermining national security and safety by committing acts intended to harm individuals, spread fear among them, and prevent state institutions and public authorities from carrying out their duties.
The investigations revealed that the defendants had been assigned to carry out various terrorist tasks within Bahrain, as well as to transfer, receive and deliver funds designated to support and finance terrorist elements affiliated with the group.
The defendants admitted to the charges brought against them.
The Public Prosecution stressed its continued efforts to pursue crimes linked to terrorist groups and to take all necessary legal measures against anyone proven to have been involved in joining them.
In another case, the High Criminal Court issued rulings in three separate cases involving individuals who supported and endorsed Iranian terrorist attacks against Bahrain.
The court sentenced three defendants to prison terms of up to 10 years, fined some of them up to BD5,000, and ordered the confiscation of the seized items.
The cases arose from reports received by the Public Prosecution from the relevant security authorities concerning the monitoring of social media accounts containing content supporting and endorsing Iranian terrorist attacks targeting Bahrain, in addition to the publication of information and images of vital sites where photography and filming are prohibited.
Investigations led to the identification of those operating the accounts. The Public Prosecution subsequently conducted its investigations, confirming that the defendants had committed the offences with which they were charged.
The Public Prosecution stressed that cyberspace, and the content published or circulated through it, is subject to the law and regulations established to protect community security and interests.
It urged users of platforms to exercise responsibility when publishing or circulating content and to refrain from contributing to the dissemination or circulation of prohibited materials and information that could harm the kingdom's security or community safety.
In a third case, the High Criminal Court convicted two defendants of spying for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), designated as a terrorist organization, and persons acting on its behalf, in order to assist in its hostile and terrorist activities against Bahrain and harm its interests.
The court sentenced both defendants to life imprisonment and ordered the confiscation of the seized items.
The Public Prosecution had received a report from the Anti-Cybercrime Directorate concerning the monitoring of a social media account containing statements supporting and endorsing Iranian terrorist attacks targeting the kingdom.
Investigations led to the identification and arrest of the person operating the account, who admitted to managing it and communicating with a defendant who had fled the country, providing him with coordinates and locations within Bahrain.
The Public Prosecution immediately opened an investigation into the report, questioning the defendant present in Bahrain, who admitted to the charges brought against him.
It said that safeguarding the kingdom's security and national interests requires confronting all forms of unlawful cooperation or communication with hostile entities. It stressed that it will continue to exercise its legal mandate in pursuing those who commit such crimes, ensuring the application of the law and accountability for anyone proven to have committed acts that could undermine Bahrain’s security or harm its interests.
