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| Twitter activists jailed in Bahrain for insulting king | Twitter activists jailed in Bahrain for insulting king |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| A court in Bahrain has sentenced six activists to a year in jail for insulting King Hamad in messages posted on Twitter. | A court in Bahrain has sentenced six activists to a year in jail for insulting King Hamad in messages posted on Twitter. |
| They were convicted for what the Bahraini public prosecutor called the "misuse of freedom of expression". | They were convicted for what the Bahraini public prosecutor called the "misuse of freedom of expression". |
| The sentences come as the government and courts continue their crackdown on protest and dissent. | The sentences come as the government and courts continue their crackdown on protest and dissent. |
| Pro-democracy protests, both peaceful and violent, have rocked the Gulf island kingdom since February 2011. | Pro-democracy protests, both peaceful and violent, have rocked the Gulf island kingdom since February 2011. |
| One of those convicted was lawyer Mahdi al-Basri, who was held responsible for "offensive" tweets attacking King Hamad and the ruling al-Khalifa family. | One of those convicted was lawyer Mahdi al-Basri, who was held responsible for "offensive" tweets attacking King Hamad and the ruling al-Khalifa family. |
| Mr al-Basri did not send the tweets himself, but served as a lawyer for a community account that posted the material. | Mr al-Basri did not send the tweets himself, but served as a lawyer for a community account that posted the material. |
| One human rights lawyer, who asked not to be named, said the conviction was part of a broader campaign of harassment by the government. | One human rights lawyer, who asked not to be named, said the conviction was part of a broader campaign of harassment by the government. |
| Mr al-Basri "wasn't even involved in any human rights cases and yet he has been jailed," the lawyer told the BBC. | Mr al-Basri "wasn't even involved in any human rights cases and yet he has been jailed," the lawyer told the BBC. |
| The sentences were announced on Wednesday, the same day the family of jailed activist Nabeel Rajab told the BBC of their concerns for his wellbeing. | The sentences were announced on Wednesday, the same day the family of jailed activist Nabeel Rajab told the BBC of their concerns for his wellbeing. |
| His wife Sumaya Rajab said she was "very worried" about him. | His wife Sumaya Rajab said she was "very worried" about him. |
| Mrs Rajab said she had been told by a relative of another prisoner that he had been moved from his cell. However, prison authorities denied the allegation. | Mrs Rajab said she had been told by a relative of another prisoner that he had been moved from his cell. However, prison authorities denied the allegation. |
| Mrs Rajab said this happened after her husband called her on Tuesday, telling her he had seen young prisoners being beaten. | Mrs Rajab said this happened after her husband called her on Tuesday, telling her he had seen young prisoners being beaten. |
| The claim spread very quickly on social network sites. Mr Rajab is the president of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) and has over 200,000 followers on Twitter. | The claim spread very quickly on social network sites. Mr Rajab is the president of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) and has over 200,000 followers on Twitter. |
| He has served nearly 12 months of a two-year term for encouraging "illegal gatherings". | He has served nearly 12 months of a two-year term for encouraging "illegal gatherings". |
| Mrs Rajab said she met the head of the prison on Wednesday, who told her that her husband "is OK and he is in his cell." | Mrs Rajab said she met the head of the prison on Wednesday, who told her that her husband "is OK and he is in his cell." |
| But she said when she asked to see him "even for two minutes to see he was alright" her request was refused. | But she said when she asked to see him "even for two minutes to see he was alright" her request was refused. |
| A statement provided to the BBC by the Interior ministry rejected what it called "rumours on social media on Wednesday regarding inmate Nabeel Rajab". It added: "The (Prison) Director emphasised that all operations within Jaw Prison are normal and that all prisoners are treated equally without malice or favour." | |
| The director is quoted in the statement as saying: "Rajab is housed with other inmates, was not transferred to another location and was not subject to solitary confinement." | |
| Another prominent human rights activist, Zainab al-Khawaja, who was jailed for three months in March, was sentenced last week to an additional three months in prison on a charge related to an illegal gathering. | Another prominent human rights activist, Zainab al-Khawaja, who was jailed for three months in March, was sentenced last week to an additional three months in prison on a charge related to an illegal gathering. |
| Her father Abdulhadi al-Khawaja is currently serving a life sentence for plotting the overthrow of the government, on evidence that is widely accepted as having been secured under torture. | Her father Abdulhadi al-Khawaja is currently serving a life sentence for plotting the overthrow of the government, on evidence that is widely accepted as having been secured under torture. |
| Both he and his daughter have been refused family visits for refusing to wear prison uniforms. | Both he and his daughter have been refused family visits for refusing to wear prison uniforms. |