The ministry’s spokesman, Abdullah Al-Saadan, said the militants were facing charges such as association with Al-Qaeda, participation in terrorism, funding terror, and accepting the Al-Qaeda ideology and supporting its crimes.

He said the court had looked into 442 cases until the end of the last Hijrah year 1431 (Dec. 6, 2010).

Al-Saadan said the ministry would announce the results of the terror trials regularly once necessary procedures for journalists to attend court sessions are completed.

He said some of the detainees were accused of keeping contacts with Al-Qaeda leaders, establishing terrorist cells inside the Kingdom, recruiting militants and making contact with foreign parties.

Al-Saadan said the preliminary verdicts issued by the court ranged from jail sentences for different terms to capital punishment. "The sentences also include fines, ban on traveling abroad and house arrest in a city of the criminal's choice. Some sentences specify the time for their implementation," he explained.

He said those accused would have the right to defend themselves through lawyers. “The special criminal court informs the militants about this before trials begin,” he added.