Bahraini Human Rights Activist Arrested for “Insulting” Tweet

By Melike Ince
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

MANAMA, Bahrain — Nabeel Rajab, president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, was arrested on Wednesday for thoughts he made public on the popular social networking site, Twitter.

Nabeel Rajab, president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights. (Photo Courtesy of the Daily Star Lebanon)

Early Wednesday, reports were released detailing the issues surrounding the arrest.  Rajab’s lawyer, Mohamed al-Jishi, claims the arrest occurred over tweets that allegedly insulted residents of a Sunni dominated area of Bahrain with close ties to the ruling regime.  A complaint was made by twenty-four retired police officers in Muharraq accusing Rajab of “casting doubt on their patriotism.”

An avid critic of King Hamad al-Khalifa, Rajab had just been released on bail Monday after spending weeks in jail from previous charges of “inciting illegal rallies and marches online by using social networking websites.”  This is the fifth time Rajab has been arrested since the beginning of May this year.  Demonstrators took to the streets in the city of Sitra on Thursday to protest the arrest and demanded Rajab’s release.  Authorities used tear gas and sound grenades in an effort to disperse the crowd.

“I was targeted because I was exercising my right to defend human rights, which is a right that is stipulated by the Bahraini constitution,” Rajab said in court Wednesday, adding that the charges against him were “vindictive accusations.”

Many supporters of Rajab say the true reason behind the arrest were the comments he made in an interview with the popular news agency, Al Jazeera.  During the interview, he explained his skepticism over the government’s seriousness about reform. “Bahrain doesn’t seem to be serious about reform.  Bahrain does not seem to be serious about reconciliation,” he said.  “The King, what he says looks good.  The King never keeps his promises”

Despite a “commitment to dialogue” with those opposed to their rule, the Bahraini government had recently come under fire  for the deaths and arrests of protesters calling for reform.  This stems from earlier claims that police tried to “crush” pro-democracy demonstrators last year during the rise of the Arab revolts influenced by neighboring states.  The government often accused the protestors of being agents of Iran.  Reports of torture to extract confessions and punish protestors have caused international rights groups to increase their involvement.

Bahraini officials deny these allegations, with Interior Minister Sheikh Rashed bin Abdullah al-Khalifa saying that “torture and killing is not part of the government’s policy.”  Though some lower level officers have been tried, activists are looking to pressure the government into charging higher officials criminally as well.

Rajab played an important role in the exposure of alleged abuse by authorities during the uprisings.  Bahrain’s Shiite majority is looking to gain more political rights, and Rajab’s following has increased awareness of the cause internationally.

Although he is still in prison, Rajab’s Twitter account continues to stay active and is updated frequently.

For further information, please see:

Tehran Times – Bahrainis Hold Anti-regime Rally to Demand Activist’s Release – 8 June 2012

Gulf Daily News – Activist Held for Insulting People – 7 June 2012

Daily Star Lebanon – Bahraini Prominent Rights Activist Under Arrest Again After Twitter Post – 7 June 2012

BBC News – Bahrain Rights Activist Nabeel Rajab Back in Detention – 6 June 2012

International Business Times – Bahrain Activist Nabeel Rajab Arrested Again After Critical Tweets of Kind Hamad – 6 June 2012

Al Jazeera – The Stream – 4 June 2012

Twitter – Nabeel Rajab – @nabeelrajab

Author: Impunity Watch Archive