Jailed Bahraini Hizbollah convict’s appeal rejected

A Bahraini national convicted of being a member of “Bahraini Hizbollah” has had his appeal to cancel a three-year sentence rejected after he failed to appear before the High Appeals Court. The defendant was among 91 Bahrainis who were earlier convicted in the case and appealed their sentences.

The case included 169 suspects who were previously convicted and were sentenced to various imprisonment sentences and revocation of citizenship. As reported by Tribune earlier, the Fourth High Criminal Court revoked the citizenships of 138 defendants, while other suspects received sentences that varied between three years in jail and life imprisonment. 

The suspects were accused of establishing and joining a terrorist group, instigating a terrorist attack, attempted murder and training on the use of weapons and explosives, possessing, obtaining, manufacturing and using explosives and firearms without a licence, financing a terrorist group, transferring and receiving funds allocated to a terrorist group, and concealing weapons, ammunition and explosives. 

Ninety-six defendants were sentenced to life in prison, 39 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, while others were fined other amounts. 

Investigations revealed 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 organisation, declaring it as the “Bahraini Hizbollah”. 

The groups that joined the organisation include three major terrorist groups – Saraya Al Ashtar (Al Ashtar Brigades), Saraya Al Mukhtar (The Chosen Brigades) and Saraya Al Muqawama Al Sha’abya (Popular Resistance Brigades). All of these groups have a history of committing deadly terrorist attacks here in the Kingdom.