Court Upholds Five-Year Sentence Over Iran Attack Posts

The Court of Cassation has rejected an appeal against a five-year prison sentence in a case involving social media content that endorsed and supported Iranian attacks against Bahrain.

The ruling upheld the defendant’s sentence of five years in prison, a BD2,000 fine and the confiscation of seized items, according to the Advocate General and Chief Prosecutor of the Court of Appeal.

The case began after the Anti-Cyber Crime Directorate of the General Directorate of Anti-Corruption and Economic and Electronic Security reported a social media account containing images, videos and comments that endorsed, supported and justified the attacks.

Investigations identified the person operating the account. The Public Prosecution then questioned the defendant, heard witnesses and assigned technical experts to examine seized electronic devices.

The technical examination confirmed the acts attributed to the defendant, according to the Public Prosecution.

The defendant was subsequently referred to the High Criminal Court, which heard the case over several sessions and provided legal safeguards, including the right to defence.

The High Criminal Court sentenced the defendant to five years in prison, fined him BD2,000 and ordered the confiscation of the seized items. The Court of Cassation has now upheld that ruling.