Bahrain court jails 12 for 10 years over support for Iranian attacks

The High Criminal Court has sentenced 12 defendants to 10 years in prison in 11 separate cases involving support for Iran’s terrorist attacks against the Kingdom, according to the Head of the Terror Crimes Prosecution.

The defendants were convicted of supporting, encouraging and praising the attacks, as well as obtaining and publishing restricted sensitive information, filming prohibited locations, and spreading false news and rumours on social media during the period of Iranian aggression against Bahrain.

In addition to prison terms, some of the convicted individuals were fined BD2,000, while the court also ordered the confiscation of seized items.

The Public Prosecution said investigations began after receiving reports from the Cybercrime Directorate about social media accounts sharing content that supported the attacks and circulated sensitive information and misleading reports aimed at creating fear, harming public morale, and undermining national security.

Authorities identified the individuals behind the accounts and launched investigations, which included questioning suspects, gathering witness statements, and conducting forensic examinations of seized electronic devices.

The prosecution said technical evidence confirmed the defendants’ involvement, leading to their referral to the High Criminal Court, which issued its final rulings after reviewing the cases and hearing the defence arguments.