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Bahrain Arrests Rights Activist Over Tweets About Torture Bahrain Arrests Rights Activist Over Tweets About Torture
(34 minutes later)
One of Bahrain’s most prominent human rights activists, Nabeel Rajab, was arrested on Thursday for posting critical remarks about the government on Twitter.One of Bahrain’s most prominent human rights activists, Nabeel Rajab, was arrested on Thursday for posting critical remarks about the government on Twitter.
It was the third time that Mr. Rajab, the president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, has been detained for posting criticism of the monarchy since a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in 2011.It was the third time that Mr. Rajab, the president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, has been detained for posting criticism of the monarchy since a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in 2011.
After reading the arrest warrant presented to him at his home on Thursday, Mr. Rajab made a defiant statement into a video camera held by his son, Adam. “My case is related to Twitter,” he said. “This is another attempt to suppress the people’s right to freely express their opinions.”After reading the arrest warrant presented to him at his home on Thursday, Mr. Rajab made a defiant statement into a video camera held by his son, Adam. “My case is related to Twitter,” he said. “This is another attempt to suppress the people’s right to freely express their opinions.”
Before he was taken into custody by a group of at least 17 officers, Mr. Rajab added that he was sorry to see so many policemen gathered around his house “not to arrest a criminal, but to arrest someone who expresses his opinion.”Before he was taken into custody by a group of at least 17 officers, Mr. Rajab added that he was sorry to see so many policemen gathered around his house “not to arrest a criminal, but to arrest someone who expresses his opinion.”
He was jailed in 2012 for posting a critical gibe about Bahrain’s prime minister on Twitter. Last year, he was arrested for posting messages about a former member of the nation’s security forces who had boasted about joining the Islamic State militant group in Syria. He was convicted both times and was out on bail pending an appeal in the 2014 case. He was jailed in 2012 for posting a critical gibe about Bahrain’s prime minister on Twitter. Last year, he was arrested for posting messages about a former member of the nation’s security forces who had boasted about joining the Islamic State militant group in Syria. He was convicted both times, spent two years in prison, and was out on bail pending an appeal in the 2014 case.
According to Mr. Rajab’s colleague Said Yousif al-Muhafdah, the new charges relate to accusations by Mr. Rajab that Bahrain tortured inmates in Jaw Prison.According to Mr. Rajab’s colleague Said Yousif al-Muhafdah, the new charges relate to accusations by Mr. Rajab that Bahrain tortured inmates in Jaw Prison.
In March, Mr. Rajab shared images of a former prisoner’s wounds on Twitter.In March, Mr. Rajab shared images of a former prisoner’s wounds on Twitter.
Last week, he posted a link to an opinion article he wrote for Huffington Post on what he said was the use of excessive force to punish inmates who had taken part in a protest inside Jaw Prison.Last week, he posted a link to an opinion article he wrote for Huffington Post on what he said was the use of excessive force to punish inmates who had taken part in a protest inside Jaw Prison.
In his Huffington Post op-ed article, Mr. Rajab wrote:In his Huffington Post op-ed article, Mr. Rajab wrote:
“We have witness testimony and photographic evidence showing that human rights abuses are being carried out in Jaw,” Mr. Muhafdah of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights said on Thursday. “The violations are undeniable, yet rather than address the truth, they are calling Nabeel a liar and a criminal.”“We have witness testimony and photographic evidence showing that human rights abuses are being carried out in Jaw,” Mr. Muhafdah of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights said on Thursday. “The violations are undeniable, yet rather than address the truth, they are calling Nabeel a liar and a criminal.”
Joe Stork of Human Rights Watch said in a statement: “Bahraini authorities should be investigating these allegations of torture in Jaw Prison, not arresting people who raise concerns about it. Bahrain’s allies, especially the United States and the United Kingdom, should call for Rajab’s release without delay.”Joe Stork of Human Rights Watch said in a statement: “Bahraini authorities should be investigating these allegations of torture in Jaw Prison, not arresting people who raise concerns about it. Bahrain’s allies, especially the United States and the United Kingdom, should call for Rajab’s release without delay.”
Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, the jailed founder of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, reported from prison on Friday that he could hear screams from fellow prisoners, according to his daughter Maryam, an expatriate activist.Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, the jailed founder of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, reported from prison on Friday that he could hear screams from fellow prisoners, according to his daughter Maryam, an expatriate activist.
Bahrain’s military is taking part in the Saudi-led offensive against Houthi rebels in Yemen, partly motivated by fears of Iranian support for that group.Bahrain’s military is taking part in the Saudi-led offensive against Houthi rebels in Yemen, partly motivated by fears of Iranian support for that group.
The monarchy that rules Bahrain, drawn from the country’s Sunni Muslim minority, has portrayed calls for democracy by the Shiite Muslim majority as part of a sectarian plot sponsored by Iran. Protesters in Bahrain on Friday denounced the military intervention in Yemen, holding up posters of Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the rebel leader who comes from the Zaydi sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam.The monarchy that rules Bahrain, drawn from the country’s Sunni Muslim minority, has portrayed calls for democracy by the Shiite Muslim majority as part of a sectarian plot sponsored by Iran. Protesters in Bahrain on Friday denounced the military intervention in Yemen, holding up posters of Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the rebel leader who comes from the Zaydi sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam.