Human Rights Watch urges release of Bahraini activist Nabeel Rajab

Human Rights Watch (HRW) says Bahraini authorities “should immediately release” prominent detained activist Nabeel Rajab.

“Authorities are using the guise of a criminal investigation to harass and punish Nabeel Rajab for speaking out against the policies of Bahrain’s ruling elite,” said Joe Stork, the deputy Middle East director at HRW, in a statement issued on Monday.

“They continue to compound their violations of his basic right to free speech by adding to the charges against him as he continues to criticize the government.”

Rajab was re-arrested on June 6 over accusations of posting messages on Twitter that Manama considers critical of the Al Khalifa regime.

The Bahraini activist is the president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights and a member of the advisory committee of the Human Rights Watch Middle East Division.

He was granted bail on May 28, several days before being re-arrested.

His lawyer says Rajab is also accused of participating in an anti-regime demonstration in Manama in January.

Rajab was initially arrested at the Bahrain International Airport in Manama on May 5 upon return from the Lebanese capital Beirut.

“Nabeel Rajab’s comments concern political discussion and therefore are clearly protected under his right to free speech,” Stork said.

“These charges make a mockery of Bahrain’s claim that it does not punish free expression.”