Court revokes stripping 92 of citizenship in terror trial

The Supreme Criminal Court of Appeal has revoked a previous court order to strip the nationality of 92 convicts in “Bahraini Hizbollah” case, which saw the conviction of 138 defendants, who received sentences varying between three years and life in prison last April.

As reported earlier, the defendants were earlier convicted of establishing and joining a terrorist group, instigating a terrorist attack, attempted murder and undergoing training on the use of weapons and explosives. The case initially included 169 suspects. On April 16, 2019, the Fourth High Criminal Court sentenced 96 to life in prison, while 39 were sentenced to 10 years, 23 to seven years, one to five years, seven to three years and 30 defendants were acquitted.

Additionally, 96 of the defendants were ordered to pay fines of BD100,000 each for the damages caused. Court files showed that the group was formed after Iranian leaders issued orders to members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) to merge several Bahrain-based terrorist groups under one organization, declaring it as the “Bahraini Hizbollah”.

The groups that joined this organization include three major terrorist outfits, which are Saraya Al Ashtar (Al Ashtar Brigades), Saraya Al Mukhtar (The Chosen Brigades) and Saraya Al Muqawama Al Sha’abya (Popular Resistance Brigades).