Interior Ministry warns against anti-Saudi statements, deeds

The Interior Ministry said it supports the right of Saudi Arabia to take security measures it deems appropriate to protect its own security and stability.

“Therefore, legal action will be taken against anyone attempting to use the recent verdicts in Saudi Arabia to heighten sectarian tensions or to incite violence,” the ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

Article 215 of the Bahrain Penal Code stipulates that “a punishment of imprisonment for a period of no more than two years or a fine of no more than BD 200 shall be inflicted upon any person who makes defamatory statements in public a foreign country or an international organization based in the State of Bahrain or its president or representative.”

The same penalty shall apply to a person who defames such organization’s flag or official emblem, the article states.

“The Interior Ministry will not accept interference in any form in the verdicts of the Saudi judiciary or any other brotherly or friendly countries; these are sovereign matters. The Ministry will take legal action against any interference in the security of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and violators will be held legally accountable as per security and legal commitments between GCC countries,” the ministry said.

The GCC is made up of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar and Oman.

The Interior Ministry said the public should seek information from official sources and to avoid misusing social media to spread false and misleading information in an attempt to incite sectarianism or violence.

Under Article 168 of the Penal Code law, “imprisonment for a period of no more than two years and a fine not exceeding BD200 or either penalty shall be the punishment for any person who deliberately disseminates false reports, statements or malicious rumors, or produces any publicity seeking to damage public security, terrorize the population or cause damage to the public interest.”

“The Interior Ministry supports Saudi Arabia's actions in the fight against terrorism and other criminal activity as part of the strong and historical ties between the two countries,” the statement said.