BEIRUT: Footballer Ahmed Mirza Moussa is reportedly one of six people detained in Bahrain for allegedly posting videos on social media praising and glorifying recent Iranian attacks against the country.
The 35-year-old, who plays for Bahraini club Al-Khalediyah and the Bahrain national team, and the other suspects were said to have been apprehended on Wednesday. The newspaper Okaz and other media outlets named Moussa as one of those detained.
The Ministry of Interior said the Anti-Cybercrime Directorate at the General Directorate of Anti-Corruption, Economic and Electronic Security had identified and arrested six people accused of filming and publishing videos in the aftermath of recent Iranian attacks, in which they expressed sympathy with Iran and glorified its hostile acts.
The ministry added that the videos, which were uploaded to social media, could mislead, influence public opinion, spread fear among citizens and residents, or harm security and public order. The six suspects have been referred to the Public Prosecution, the Bahrain News Agency reported.
The ministry urged people only to trust information from official sources, and to refrain from spreading unreliable news or videos to avoid legal repercussions and help safeguard the security and safety of the nation, the agency added.
Moussa, born in February 1991, is a well-known footballer in Bahrain who has represented the national team at several international competitions over the years, including the 2021 Arab Cup. In addition to Al-Khalediyah he has played for several local clubs, most notably Al-Hidd and Al-Manama.
