Published On 4/28/2026
Today, Tuesday, the Grand Criminal Court in the Bahraini capital, Manama, sentenced five defendants (two Afghans and three Bahrainis) to life imprisonment in two separate cases on charges of spying with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to carry out hostile acts inside Bahrain, with a sixth Bahraini defendant acquitted, and the foreign defendants deported from the country after serving their sentences.
The court also issued – according to Bahrain News Agency – prison sentences against 24 defendants for periods ranging between 5 and 10 years, in 22 cases related to supporting Iranian attacks on Bahrain, while the court ruled that one defendant be imprisoned for a year and fined him, and ordered the confiscation of the seized items.
The Public Prosecution said that it had received a number of reports from the Anti-Cybercrime Department, indicating that accounts had been monitored on social media sites supporting the Iranian attacks targeting the Kingdom of Bahrain, publishing vital data and photographing vital places prohibited from being photographed, in addition to broadcasting false news and rumors aimed at harming the morale of Bahraini society in light of its exposure to Iranian aggression.
The Public Prosecution affirmed that freedom of expression is guaranteed within the framework of the law, stressing that publishing or circulating materials that include support for “terrorist acts” or divulging prohibited data is considered a violation of national security, while emphasizing that legal measures will continue to be taken against violators.
The Bahraini Public Prosecution called on citizens and residents to adhere to the provisions of the law, and to be responsible when using social media, stressing that the security and stability of the nation is “something that cannot be compromised,” and that it will not hesitate to take deterrent legal measures against anyone who violates the provisions of the law.
Withdrawal of Bahraini citizenship
Meanwhile, Bahrain announced yesterday, Monday, the revocation of the Bahraini citizenship of 69 people, including their dependent families, against the backdrop of accusations of sympathy for “Iranian hostile actions” or spying for foreign parties.
The Bahrain News Agency reported that the decision came in implementation of the royal directives issued by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and with the follow-up of Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, as part of efforts aimed at maintaining security and stability.
In the wake of the Iranian attacks on Bahrain, the official Bahraini News Agency reported from the country’s Public Prosecution that during the months of March and April, a number of those accused of spying for Tehran were investigated.
Earlier, the General Command of the Bahrain Defense Force reported, in a statement, that it had intercepted and destroyed, since the start of the Iranian attacks, 194 missiles and 523 drones targeting the Kingdom, during the period from February 28 of last year until the start of the truce between Washington and Tehran on April 8 of this year.
On February 28, the United States and Israel began a war against Iran, resulting in thousands of deaths, while Tehran responded by launching missiles and drones towards Israel and what it said were American bases and interests in the region, resulting in civilian casualties. Iranian attacks on the Gulf states also targeted civilian and energy infrastructure and left massive damage.
