Bahrain Mirror: A criminal court in Saudi Arabia has issued a primary ruling on Wednesday (June 1, 2016), sentencing to death 14 citizens from the predominantly-Shiite Qatif region, east of the kingdom, over terrorism charges, reported the Saudi Al-Arabiya channel.

One of the defendants was acquitted and nine others were handed long-term jail sentences, Reuters news agency quoted their defense lawyer as saying on condition of anonymity. The lawyer said that the jail terms were 15 years.

The 24 defendants had been held for about three years and accused of allegedly carrying weapons and shooting at police, added the lawyer.

Among other charges raised against them from arson, rioting, armed robbery to drug dealing, the defendants were convicted of attacks on police during protests in Qatif which is known for pro-democracy demonstrations by Shia citizens and a heavy-handed crackdown by authorities.

Arabic Version