Saudi court reviews 442 terrorism cases against Qaeda

A Saudi criminal court has reviewed 442 terrorism cases related to suspected al-Qaeda members during the last two years, the justice ministry revealed on Saturday, according to an Al Arabiya TV report.

The ministry announced that it will periodically announce verdicts, pending completion of the necessary procedures to allow the media to cover trials.

Ministry of Justice Spokesman Dr. Abdullah Al-Saadan said initial verdicts were issued against 765 accused individuals, and that 325 cases out of the 442 total reviewed cases were appealed.

Some terrorism cases can involve one or several suspects.

Saudi authorities prepare to allow some news media to attend trials under a judicial approval.

The Kingdom witnessed a wave of terrorist attacks since 2003, and the Interior Ministry handed in October 2008 to the Justice Minister the files of detained suspects for the start of trials.