Bahraini activist on trial

A prominent Bahraini human rights activist has appeared in court charged with inciting protests by using social networking sites. 

 

Nabeel Rajab was arrested on May 5 at Manama’s airport, on his return from Beirut. 

 

Rajab is a fierce critic of the Bahraini authorities and very active on social network websites as well as in anti-government protests. He is often seen in the forefront of opposition demonstrations in Bahrain and is a vocal critic of the ruler, King Hamad al-Khalifa. 

 

He described his trial as “vindictive” and political, AFP news agency reports. 

 

AFP reported that Mr Rajab addressed the court saying: “I only practiced my right to free expression. I did not commit a crime. The decision to arrest me and put me on trial was a political decision”. 

 

The trial spurred much activity on the micro-blogging site Twitter, where Rajab has more than 140,000 followers. 

 

Human Rights Watch has urged Bahraini authorities to drop the case against Mr Rajab. 

 

“The charges against Nabeel Rajab are nothing more than attempts to silence one of the Bahraini government’s most prominent critics,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at the New York-based watchdog. 

 

Rajab is accused of “inciting illegal rallies and marches online by using social networking websites.” 

 

A statement from the Bahraini Interior Ministry said: “A police investigation also revealed that the defendant’s cyber incitement proved detrimental to public security as it fuelled rioting, road-blocking, arson, acts of sabotage targeting public and private properties, and the use of petrol bombs and incendiary devices.” 

 

The ministry said Mr Rajab had admitted posting “defamatory and humiliating” depictions of state security forces, “but was non-compliant during further detailed questioning” and refused to recognise the court.