Bahrain Mirror: Bahrain's First High Criminal Court presided over by judge Hamad bin Salman Al Khalifa with the membership of judges Dia' Huraidi and Issam-Eldeen Mohammad Khalil and Naji Abdullah as secretariat, sentenced 8 suspects to 3 years in prison over charges of starting a fire and holding an assembly in Salmabad.

The Public Prosecution stated that the suspects, along with unknown others, intentionally started a fire on December 27, 2014 that would put people's lives and properties to danger for a terrorist aim. The prosecution also accused them of participating in a gathering of more than five persons, aiming at disrupting public security, and using violence to achieve their aim.

The authorities claimed that the suspects assembled in December 27, 2014 and set 6 tires ablaze.  They also burnt a water tank and blocked street 12 in Salmabad village.

Since 2012, the known riot cases which are listed under the riot act have been amended to apply to the terrorism act, as new terrorist aims and pretexts have been attributed to these cases, such as the attempted murder of policemen, breaching the provisions of law and putting people's lives and properties in danger, in order to harshen the sentences issued against protestors and activists.

Arabic Issue