Bahrain Jailed 14 for Rioting and Vandalism, 2 Others for Filming Vital Facilities

06/05/2026

MANAMA, May 6: Bahrain’s Lower Criminal Court issued rulings in several separate cases involving rioting, violence, vandalism, and the filming or photographing of vital and restricted facilities, the Head of the Terror Crimes Prosecution said.

In seven cases related to rioting, violence, and vandalism, the court sentenced 14 defendants to prison terms ranging from two to three years, imposed fines between BD200 and BD500, and ordered the confiscation of seized items. The cases followed reports from the Ministry of Interior’s security directorates, which said the defendants were arrested at the scene while carrying out acts of violence and vandalism.

In two other separate cases involving the filming and photographing of vital facilities, the court sentenced defendants to prison terms ranging from one to five years. One defendant was also fined BD100 , and seized items were confiscated. One case involved a social media account that published video footage of vital facilities, detected by the Anti-Cybercrime Directorate, while the other involved a defendant caught photographing restricted facilities in violation of the law.

The Public Prosecution said it had conducted investigations, questioned the defendants, heard witness testimonies, and reviewed technical reports before referring the cases to court. The court examined the cases over several hearings before issuing its rulings.

The Public Prosecution affirmed that it will continue to take firm legal action against violations that threaten public security, endanger vital facilities, or undermine community safety, stressing its commitment to enforcing the law and preserving stability in the Kingdom.