Ex-MP to be prosecuted over ‘sectarian remarks’

Manama : A former MP was interrogated yesterday over accusations of making remarks that were considered disrespectful to a sect through social media networks, the Public Prosecution confirmed in a statement issued here yesterday.

This came as a several citizens, including a renowned attorney, pledged to hold the former legislator accountable for his remarks on his personal page on Twitter two weeks back, as they considered it insulting to their beliefs.

Northern Governorate Chief Prosecutor Mohammed Salah said in the statement that “the Public Prosecution received several complaints from citizens against an individual who had tweeted on his social media account in defamation of a leading figure revered and glorified in their sect”.

“The prosecution investigated the incident and heard the complainants’ testimonies. The suspect was questioned and confronted with the insults in his tweets. He was subsequently charged with insulting a revered and glorified figure,” Salah said.

The defendant had pleaded not guilty as he claimed that he only reposted the remarks of another individual and that he later removed it from his page.

However, he will stand before the criminal court by the end of the month, as the chief prosecutor confirmed in yesterday’s statement, “In compliance with Clause 2/310 of the Kingdom’s Penal Code, his case was referred to the relevant court which will consider it on January 30.”