The Court of Appeals in Bahrain on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, overturned an earlier acquittal of Sheikh Ahmed Issa Al-Haiki and reinstated the life sentence previously imposed on him, following an appeal by the public prosecution. Following the verdict, Sheikh Al-Haiki is to be transferred to the Joh Central Prison, where convicted prisoners are held, to serve a life sentence in a case involving charges of espionage on behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The latest decision raised renewed concerns about the politicization of judicial proceedings and the handling of release orders. Despite his earlier acquittal, which should have paved the way for his immediate release, the authorities reportedly held Sheikh al-Hayiki in the dry dock detention center instead of implementing the courts' decision.

The Court of Appeals in Bahrain on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, overturned an earlier acquittal of Sheikh Ahmed Issa Al-Haiki and reinstated the life sentence previously imposed on him, following an appeal by the public prosecution. Following the verdict, Sheikh Al-Haiki is to be transferred to the Joh Central Prison, where convicted prisoners are held, to serve a life sentence in a case involving charges of espionage on behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The latest decision raised renewed concerns about the politicization of judicial proceedings and the handling of release orders. Despite his earlier acquittal, which should have paved the way for his immediate release, the authorities reportedly held Sheikh al-Hayiki in the dry dock detention center instead of implementing the courts' decision.