Twitter users in Bahrain jailed for allegedly insulting tweets
The Bahraini government started the process of revising its penal code last month to allow officials to jail anyone who insults King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, according to Amnesty International.
It appears that the government is now taking action.
Six people were sentenced to one year in prison on Wednesday for allegedly insulting the King on Twitter, according to Al Jazeera.
The criminal court ruled that these people were "misusing the right of free expression" and their tweets were "undermining the values and traditions of Bahrain's society towards the king on Twitter."
Bahrain, which is in the middle of a popular uprising against the monarchy, is known for coming down hard on Internet dissidents. This year, Reporters without Borders named Bahrain one of the top five worst governments to engage in extensive hi-tech surveillance of its citizens.
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