Jail term reduced in online defamation case

Manama : Two defendants accused of defaming one of the religious sects have had their jail term reduced on appeal. The duo will serve three months in prison each instead of the initial one-year imprisonment. The defendants are said to have appeared in an online video, where they hurled insults at a religious sect as well as they made obscene gestures.

The General Director of Anti-corruption and Economic and Electronic Security had announced earlier the arrest of the two for posting a video on social media that denigrates a religious sect in Bahrain. The General Director said, quoting Article 309 of the penal code, “A punishment for a period not exceeding one year or a fine not exceeding BD100 shall be inflicted on those who commits such an offence.”