Bahrain convicts 6 of Twitter insults

Published May 15, 2013

Associated Press

MANAMA, Bahrain –  A lawyer says Bahraini courts have sentenced six people to a year in prison on charges of making Twitter posts deemed offensive to the Gulf nation's king.

The convictions Wednesday are part of wider crackdowns across Gulf Arab states against perceived dissent expressed on social media, including imposing tougher media laws.

Lawyer Shahzalan Khamis says the prosecution claimed the six suspects violated laws with posts critical of Bahrain King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. No other details on the posts were made public.

Bahrain has been gripped by more than two years of unrest between the Sunni-led government and the kingdom majority Shiites seeking a greater political voice.

Bahrain is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.

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Saudi court convicts 8 on terrorism charges

Published April 28, 2013

Associated Press

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia –  The official Saudi news agency says a court has convicted eight men on terrorism-related charges, including plotting attacks on an oil refinery.

The defendants, seven Saudis and one Yemeni, were given prison sentences ranging from four months to eight years.

The official Saudi Press Agency reported Sunday that all eight were banned from traveling abroad for at least one year after their release.

Saudi Arabia runs a rehabilitation program that aims to dissuade militants from fighting alongside al-Qaida.

An audio recording released this month by al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula urged Saudis to revolt against the kingdom for allowing U.S. drones to launch missions from its soil and strike militants in neighboring Yemen.

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