For over half a year, since June 20, 2016, security authorities overpowered a full siege on the Bahraini town of Diraz, home to the prominent Shiite cleric, Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim.

First attorney general, Ahmad Al Dosari, said that Decree No. 1 of 2017 amending some provisions of Decree No. 14 of 2002 pertaining to establishing the National Security Agency, granted the agency officers and members the status of “law enforcement officers”.

The Criminal Court adjourned the case of the Shiite majority spiritual leader in Bahrain, Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim, along with two of those working in his office, until next January 30, for pleading.

The Public Prosecution decided to extend the imprisonment of President of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, prominent rights activist Nabeel Rajab for 15 days pending investigation.

Activists published on Wednesday (January 4, 2017) a photo of Redha Al Ghasra, saying it was new. Al Ghasra was one of the 10 prisoners who were able to escape Jaw Prison on January 1.

Interior Minister Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa ordered on Wednesday referring 3 officials to the Public Prosecution, among them Director of Jaw Prison, after the incident that led to the escape of 10 prisoners.

The Sixth Supreme Criminal Court of Appeal upheld the verdict ruling the 10-year imprisonment and citizenship revocation of 18-year-old defendant accused of training on making and using weapons in Iran.

The Supreme Court of Appeal upheld the 3-year imprisonment sentence against a police officer, and a prisoner, and a 200 Dinar fine to be paid by the officer, after he was accused of accepting a bribe from an inmate in Jaw Prison.

Social media activists circulated on Wednesday (January 4, 2017) photo for the detained director Yaser Nasser in Al-Salmaniya Medical Complex.

The Bahraini parliament said that it decided to hold an extended meeting next Sunday with the Ministry of Interior to study the “latest security arena and follow the events, developments and measures taken at all levels.”

A Bahraini court upheld on Wednesday (January 4, 2017) 3-month jail term against journalist Faisal Hayyat.

Bahrain’s high appeals criminal court commuted the sentence of 6 out of 8 appellants convicted of burning 6 tires in Himla during an assembly which they took part in.

In response to rising complaints from consumers relating to inappropriate content found on Social Media platforms and in line with its mission to promote a safe cyber environment for users in Bahrain, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) Bahrain held several key meetings with social media companies such as Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat.

The coast guard commander said on Tuesday (January 3, 2017) that he communicated with the Qatari Coast Guard for the arrest of 4 amateur fishermen after entering Qatari water. He added on the Ministry of Interior’s Twitter account that legal steps were taken.

Bahrain Mirror has monitored the daily events linked to the ruling family and the opposition throughout 2016 so that they would be a reminder of the violent ways of the regime and peaceful activism of dissenters— a reminder of a scheme, on one hand, to take Bahrain back to what it was before 1923, and a project, on the other hand, aimed at making Bahrain a country for all.

The Bahrain Press Association confirmed in its annual report that 2016 saw the most number of violations on the level of freedom of expression, since the outbreak of the revolution on February 14, 2011.

Dozens of foreign workers have reportedly been sentenced to flogging and jail in Saudi Arabia for unrest which erupted after wages went unpaid by the Binladin Group, AFP reported.

Bahrain’s National Guard Commander, Mohammad bin Isa Al Khalifa, met (Tuesday January 3, 2017) with Pakistani Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif, and discussed trade and military relations between Bahrain and Pakistan.

The Supreme Court of Appeal adjourned during its Monday meeting the case pertaining to convicts accused of joining ISIS. The Court scheduled (January 12, 2017) to be the date of the pleading and for assigning lawyers for the appellants.

On June 20, 2016, the authorities revoked the nationality of Bahraini Shiite spiritual leader Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim.