The Bahraini Public Prosecutor's Office has referred a number of defendants to criminal trial for posting fabricated video clips and broadcasting false news via social media, which harms public security and spreads panic among the community. The Bahraini Public Prosecutor's Office had received several reports from the Electronic Crimes Directorate, stating that during its monitoring and follow-up operations, a number of social media accounts were detected posting and broadcasting false news and malicious rumors regarding the locations of shelling coinciding with the aggressive acts the Kingdom is subjected to. Additionally, one of the defendants posted and circulated a fabricated image showing residential areas being shelled, which would cause panic and fear among citizens and residents, and would also harm civil peace. Upon receiving the reports, the Public Prosecutor's Office began its investigation, interrogating the defendants and confronting them with the evidence against them. It also ordered the examination of the technical devices used in the incident, listened to witnesses, and concluded to remand the defendants in custody pending investigation and refer them to criminal trial before the competent court. The head of the Bahraini Terrorism Crimes Prosecution affirmed that exploiting social media platforms to spread false news or circulate fabricated clips that harm public security and spread fear among the community is considered a serious crime that affects the security and stability of society. He stressed that the Public Prosecutor's Office will firmly confront anyone proven to be involved in such criminal acts, and the Office also calls on everyone to verify accuracy and obtain information from official sources, and not to follow or spread rumors, to preserve public security and protect civil peace and the stability of the nation.
