The Special Penal Court recently issued a number of preliminary verdicts in the cases of detainees related to Al Qaida linked terrorism and state security crimes. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Official Spokesman for the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution said that based on article (126) of the Code of Criminal Procedure some detainees had been referred, with different charges, to the Special Penal Court. These charges include membership of a deviant group (terrorist group) and involvement in its activities, communicating and coordinating, and working with foreign agencies to conspire against national security by causing mayhem and insecurity. Charges also included facilitating and financing terrorism, and initiating disobedience and aggression against the ruler (treason) by travelling abroad to fight in places of sedition or initiating such action. The Spokesman stated that the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution had applied general regulations relating to prosecution which included assessing: the actions of each detainee; examining incriminating evidence, including that related to each and every crime linked to the detainees; and (strive to ensure that those convicted) receive deserving penalties. The Spokesman concluded his statement by saying that the Special Penal Court verdicts will be appealed, and that all subsequent cases will be considered by the Court in due course.
