Bahrain’s attempt to try an activist for tweets condemning the prison system as sparked criticism by the US State Department reports Reuters.
Bahraini rights activist Nabeel Rajab was arrested earlier this month on unspecified charges in what appears to be an escalating crackdown on dissent by the Sunni-led government, and is set to face over a decade in person.
In a statement released by the State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau, the US said,
“We are concerned that Nabeel Rajab will face trial for a series of tweets he published last year. The United States believes no one should be prosecuted or imprisoned for engaging in peaceful expression or assembly even if considered controversial.”
Mr Rajab’s Lawyer, Jalila Sayed told supporters on Sunday that Rajab faces a prison term for tweets that accused security forces of torturing detainees in a main prison and killing civilians in the Saudi Arabia led war in Yemen.
Bahraini rights activist Nabeel Rajab was arrested earlier this month on unspecified charges in what appears to be an escalating crackdown on dissent by the Sunni-led government, and is set to face over a decade in person.
In a statement released by the State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau, the US said,
“We are concerned that Nabeel Rajab will face trial for a series of tweets he published last year. The United States believes no one should be prosecuted or imprisoned for engaging in peaceful expression or assembly even if considered controversial.”
Mr Rajab’s Lawyer, Jalila Sayed told supporters on Sunday that Rajab faces a prison term for tweets that accused security forces of torturing detainees in a main prison and killing civilians in the Saudi Arabia led war in Yemen.