Offensive tweet: appeal rejected

Manama

An appeal by an accused who was sentenced to six months in jail in a defamation case has been rejected and the initial verdict issued against him was upheld by the High Criminal Appeals Court.

Nabeel Rajab was earlier found guilty of insulting two state institutions, namely, Ministries of Interior and the Defence.

According to court files, the accused had described the security authorities in the Kingdom as the ‘first ideological incubator terrorist organizations’ in remarks he had made on his Twitter account.

However, he pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. He was released on a conditional bail pending outcome of his appeal before being arrested over accusations of spreading false news about the Saudi-led military operation against huthis in Yemen.

He was released from prison in May last year after serving a two-year sentence for taking part in three different illegal rallies in Manama disturbing law and order situation and inciting others to take part in illegal gatherings.