Juwayyir terrorist cell accused of planning to blow up Abqaiq refinery briefly held up proceedings in the Special Penal Court here Wednesday by demanding to know the names of the journalists covering the trial. Despite explanation by the three-judge panel that it was not a closed door session, the defendant continued to raise a hue and cry over the presence of media personnel. The judges maintained that the journalists were doing their duty and are not “fabricating them.” Rejecting the contention of the defendant, the judges maintained that the defendant has a right to sue a journalist if he indulges in defamation. The defendant described the journalists tasked with covering the sessions as “dishonest.” The print media, he alleged, has a black history in its coverage of the trials. He asked the journalists in court to introduce themselves and mention the names of the papers they were representing. He also alleged that he could bring neutral and unbiased TV channels and journalists pointing out that he doesn't have any objection if his name and the allegations he was making published. In all 67 people have been charged with belonging to the Al-Juwayyir group. All but one are Saudis. They also face charges of terror funding, terrorist acts, supporting the terrorist organization through the media, securing the means of telecommunications, possessing weapons, ammunition and explosives and training on the manufacture and blending of explosive materials, inciting others against the ruler and disobeying him, and joining the terrorist organization in Iraq under the command of the leader of the organization Abu Mus'ab Al-Zarqawi. __
