They consisted of 38 Saudis, a Yemeni, a Qatari and an Afghan.

The list of charges against them, prepared by the Prosecution and Investigation Commission (PIC) included supporting and financing terrorism, funding wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, recruiting militants for Al-Qaeda in Iraq and creating a border pass to smuggle militants, weapons and funds to Iraq.

Ten defendants appeared before the court on Tuesday.

They listened to the charges against them and each was given a written copy.

The prosecution said defendant No. 40, a prison officer, passed information from the Defendant No. 39 to people outside a jail.

He was charged with betraying the duties of his job.

He also said two of the accused physically attacked the director of the prison, destroyed the lights and cameras, created chaos in the facility and threatened to burn down the prison.

Three of the accused asked the judge to evict reporters from the courtroom and four of them asked the Ministry of Justice to appoint lawyers to represent them at its own expense.

Defendant No. 32 was accused of making arrangements with five other terrorists to travel to Iraq to join the fighting there and also acquiring and hiding five machine guns.

He was also accused of hiding three motorbikes in his grandmother’s farm and hosting militants traveling to Iraq.

Defendant No. 33 was charged with concealing the names of militants who asked him to coordinate their travel to Iraq.

He was also accused of providing accommodation in his home to defendant No. 30.

Defendant No. 34 was accused of disobeying the ruler by attempting to travel to Iraq and join the war there.

He was also accused of acquiring a machine gun in addition to detailed maps for Jordan, Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, possessing GPS equipment and breaking the pledge he had earlier made to stay away from trouble when he was caught trying to travel to one of the war zones.

Defendant No. 35 was charged with traveling to Iraq to join the fighting.

He was also accused of encouraging other defendants to go to Iraq.

He was accused of owning a satellite mobile phone and GPS device to be used for terror activities and participating in the riot at the prison.

Defendant No. 36 was accused of entering Iraq in an illegal way using forged documents.

He was also accused of participating in the fighting there and helping a number of militants to enter the country.

He allegedly collected donations to finance the fighting in Iraq and creating chaos in the prison.

Defendant No. 37 was accused of attempting to travel to Iraq from Syria, helping militants who wanted to join him in the war-torn country and financing terrorist operations.

Defendant Nos. 38, 39 and 41 were charged with coordinating the travel of militants to Iraq and financing terrorist operations.

A representative from the Human Rights Commission and reporters attended the hearing.