In camera hearing held for accused in IS link case

The High Criminal Court has held the hearing of the case of 24 Bahraini defendants suspected of having links with the Islamic State (IS) behind closed doors upon the request of the Public Prosecution. Three prosecution witnesses testified yesterday, but judges announced that the hearing would be secret. The case had been adjourned until March 23 to hear two other police witnesses. 

Aged between 16 and 42, the suspects have been charged in October last year with forming a cell of the IS group, plotting suicide attacks and recruiting fighters for the jihadist organisation. 

However, 16 of the suspects are still at large and they are being tried in absentia. Among the suspects is IS ideological lodestar Turki Al Binali and three of his brothers (the second and third defendant). 

The defendants are said to have been plotting to carry out a suicide bombing in a local mosque. The mastermind of the cell was Turki, who is believed to have recruited dozens of Bahraini youth and sent them to frontlines outside the country. 

The second defendant reportedly travelled to Syria where he received military training and took part in hostilities before returning to the Kingdom. 

He along with the third defendant was assigned later by their brother Turki to encourage more young Bahrainis to join IS and facilitate their travel to Syria to receive militia training and fight with IS members.  

The fourteenth defendant is said to have requested the fifth defendant to carry out a terrorist attack against Shias in Bahrain because there wasn’t sufficient money to help him travel to Syria. 

They reportedly targeted the A’ali Grand Mosque in a bid to kill a high number of Shia worshipers. Turki has been charged with establishing a branch for a terrorist organisation intended to disable the provisions of the Constitution and prevent State institutions and public authorities from exercising its business by terror means. 

The other defendants have been indicted with joining a terrorist organisation, receiving militia training, possessing weapons and explosives, participating in terrorist operations and planning to carry out terrorist attacks.