Bahrain passes new law to curb terrorism

Manama: Bahraini King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa has ratified a law aimed at protecting the Gulf country from terrorism, Bahraini news agency BNA reported on Wednesday.

The law makes a punishable offence propagating, glorifying, justifying, favouring or encouraging acts that constitute terrorist activities, the agency added.

According to the new law, the violators inside and outside Bahrain face up to five years in prison and a fine ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 Bahraini dinars.

The law, an amendment to a 2006 code, will come in force on the following day of its publication in Bahrain’s Official Gazette, the agency said.

On Monday, King Hamad said he had instructed security agencies to deal “firmly” with cyber propagators of sedition and abusers of social media.

Earlier this week, Bahraini authorities uncovered a network of destabilising electronic accounts operated in several countries including Iran, Qatar, Iraq and Germany.

The authorities said that the network, run by wanted fugitives, is implementing a “systematic plan” to harm the image of Bahrain.