Ex-MP’s sentence upheld

The High Criminal Appeals Court has upheld the one-year sentence issued against an ex-MP convicted of defaming the Ministry of Interior online.

Khalid Abdulaal reportedly broadcast 10 tweets on his Twitter account featuring contents deemed critical of the Ministry. In one of the tweets, according to court files, he alleged that the Ministry was “making fake criminal cases in order to put innocents behind bars,” as well as “inmates were confessing under duress.”

Abdulaal’s tweets included phrases that reflect he was attempting to stir up sectarian hatred, according to the State’s complaint. His account was being followed by 5,500 users at the time he was tweeting. The defendant admitted to the Public Prosecution his ownership of the account, but denied the accusations that he was aiming to defame the Ministry of Interior. He also entered an innocent plea during his trial.