Bahrain upholds 5-year jail term of activist Nabeel Rajab

DUBAI: A Bahraini appeals court docket on Tuesday upheld a five-year jail sentence in a case towards high-profile activist Nabeel Rajab related to social media, a rights team and circle of relatives member said.

Rajab, a leading figure in 2011 protests towards the Gulf state's Sunni-minority monarchy, used to be convicted of insulting the state, "deliberately disseminating ... false or malicious news" and "publicly offending a foreign country", a reference to Saudi Arabia.

The charges are related to tweets and retweets made by means of Rajab's account and important of the Saudi-led coalition, including Bahrain, fighting in Yemen in give a boost to of its beleaguered govt since 2015.

He additionally tweeted criticism of the Bahraini govt's remedy of prisoners.

Tuesday's verdict, reported by means of the London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy and confirmed to AFP by means of a circle of relatives member of Rajab, can still be appealed at Bahrain's Court of Cassation, its very best court docket.

Bahrain, a Shiite-majority nation situated between regional opponents Saudi Arabia and Iran, has been dominated for greater than two centuries by means of the Al-Khalifa dynasty.

Authorities have jailed dozens of high-profile activists and disbanded each religious and secular opposition groups since protests difficult political trade erupted in 2011.

They have stripped loads of those convicted in their citizenship, leaving many stateless.

The Bahraini govt has accused Iranian authorities of backing the protest movement in a bid to overthrow it.

Tehran denies involvement.

Amnesty International has categorised Rajab as a prisoner of moral sense, and main rights groups world wide have condemned his trials as an attack on freedom of expression.

Rajab is already serving a two-year sentence for "disseminating rumours and false information" in television interviews essential of the federal government.


He has served multiple stints in jail since 2012, all related to his role in the protests.


Bahrain, taking part in a key army role in the Gulf, is house to the USA Navy's Fifth Fleet and a British army base.


US President Donald Trump has eased restrictions on palms sales to Bahrain since taking place of business in January last yr.


Bahrain upholds 5-year jail term of activist Nabeel Rajab Bahrain upholds 5-year jail term of activist Nabeel Rajab Reviewed by Kailash on June 06, 2018 Rating: 5
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