Bahrain Accuses 24 Individuals of Attempting to Establish an 'Islamic State' Branch

The office of Ahmed Al-Hamadi, the chief prosecutor of Bahrain's Terrorism Crimes Prosecution, announced on Wednesday evening, October 29, that 24 individuals have been charged with attempting to establish a branch of the 'Islamic State' (ISIS) and overthrowing the monarchy, and their case has been referred to the court. In previous years, during the protests known as the 'Arab Spring,' Bahrain also witnessed street demonstrations by Shia individuals demanding political reforms. Some of these Shia protesters were accused of extremism by judicial and security institutions. However, this is the first time Bahrain, which hosts the U.S. Fifth Fleet, has accused individuals of extremism based on 'affiliation with the Islamic State.' According to the Bahrain News Agency, the statement from the Attorney General indicated that of the 24 accused, eight have been arrested, while the others remain at large. These individuals have also been charged with 'possessing weapons and training for the use of weapons and explosives for the purpose of terrorist acts.' The statement from the Bahraini prosecution noted: 'Investigations show that the first accused attempted to recruit the second and third accused for membership in the terrorist group ISIS. He also facilitated the second accused's travel to Syria to receive military training from ISIS members.' The statement added: 'The first accused asked the second and third accused to recruit more individuals and provide a route for their travel to Syria with the aim of joining the terrorist group ISIS.' According to this statement: 'These two accused managed to recruit several other defendants, and some of them joined the group to participate in ISIS military operations outside Bahrain. They also used social media to promote joining their terrorist group.' The Attorney General of Bahrain emphasized in his statement: 'Plans have been made for some members of the group present in Bahrain to carry out suicide operations at places of worship, as occurred in the neighboring country.' This statement refers to Saudi Arabia, where extremists affiliated with the 'Islamic State' killed at least five people during an armed attack on a Shia mosque on October 24. In the months prior, two suicide attacks targeted another Shia mosque, resulting in at least 25 worshippers killed in total. Last July, a suicide attack at a Shia mosque in Kuwait killed at least 25 individuals. The Bahraini prosecution's statement noted that the indictment was prepared after several months of investigation, and the first trial session in the criminal court will be held on December 22.