Eight people have been sentenced to life in prison and six others to 15 years behind bars after convictions in four terrorism-related cases, the Public Prosecution has announced.
The High Criminal Court also imposed fines of up to BD100,000 on some of the defendants and ordered the confiscation of funds and items seized during the investigations.
According to prosecutors, the convicted individuals joined terrorist groups that were allegedly planning attacks in Bahrain with an aim to undermine public order, threaten the kingdom’s security, safety and economy, harm individuals, spread fear among the public and disrupt the work of state institutions and public authorities.
Investigations found that they had been assigned roles in carrying out terrorist activities in Bahrain, including the transfer, receipt and delivery of funds intended to support and finance terrorist operatives.
In separate rulings, the High Criminal Court also sentenced two individuals to 10 years in prison and fined each of them BD2,000 after finding them guilty of supporting and endorsing Iranian terrorist attacks against Bahrain through social media platforms.
The Public Prosecution said technical investigations had established the defendants’ involvement in the offences attributed to them.
It stressed that while freedom of opinion and expression is protected by law, publishing, justifying or promoting terrorist acts through electronic platforms constitute a criminal offence that threatens national security and civil peace.
It added that it would continue to pursue strict legal action against anyone proven to be involved in terrorism-related crimes, including financing and incitement.
Meanwhile, the Public Prosecution has filed an appeal before the Court of Cassation against the acquittal of a defendant accused of financing and supporting fugitive terrorist elements in Iran and participating in espionage activities aimed at harming the interests of Bahrain.
Prosecutors argued that the judgment contained evidence indicating the defendant had committed unlawful acts closely linked to the charges brought against him.
The Public Prosecution further revealed that the defendant remains under separate investigation for alleged money laundering and terrorism financing offences.
Investigators claim that he collected more than
BD21 million over the past five years and transferred the funds to fugitive elements in Iran to support their activities.
The case is expected to be referred to court once the investigations are completed.
The court heard the cases over several hearings during which all legal guarantees, foremost among them the defendants’ right to defence, were upheld before issuing the judgments.
The head of the Terrorism Crimes Prosecution said all legal measures and procedures were being pursued to identify and cut off sources of support for terrorist activities, stressing that efforts would continue to disrupt plots targeting the kingdom and prosecute those involved in terrorism and its financing.
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