"State Security": Citizen sentenced to three years for inciting fitna and sympathizing with an enemy state

The Judicial Editor – The State Security Appeals Court issued several rulings in cases involving threats to state security, including charges of inciting sectarian strife, expressing sympathy for Iranian attacks, and broadcasting false news. The court sentenced a citizen to three years in prison after convicting him of inciting sectarian strife and expressing sympathy with a hostile state, thereby overturning the non-punishment ruling issued against him by the first-instance court. In another case, the court upheld the acquittal of a tweeter on charges of broadcasting false news regarding rising prices and shortages in food supplies. The court also upheld the acquittal of a citizen on charges of inciting sectarian strife and insulting the Sunni sect. In a related development, the court annulled the non-punishment rulings issued against several defendants and again ruled in their favor, acquitting them of the charges against them, which included inciting sectarian strife. Conversely, the court upheld the non-punishment rulings issued against several citizens.