Free Bahraini human rights activist Nabeel Rajab

This video from Bahrain says about itself:

Interview with Nabeel Rajab days before his detention to fulfill his sentence imposed for tweeting.

From Human Rights First:

Nabeel Rajab – Global Week of Action: March 21 – 28

3-22-2013

By Diana Sayed
Human Rights Defenders

Prominent Bahraini human rights defender Nabeel Rajab, a leader in the ongoing pro-democracy struggle, is in prison serving out a two-year sentence for allegedly inciting “illegal gatherings” on Twitter. Rajab is the the Director of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR).

This week, pro-democracy activist Jihan Kazerooni and others have organized the Global Week of Action to raise awareness for Nabeel Rajab and other political prisoners in Bahrain. The effort will include peaceful rallies around the world and a social media push using videos, photos, Twitter, Facebook and the participation of prominent musicians and public figures who are willing to publicize Nabeel’s unjust imprisonment and the plight of political prisoners in Bahrain.

You can also join the Global Week of Action by calling for Nabeel’s release and the release of all others unjustly jailed in Bahraini. By doing so, you are acting in support of the basic human rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of speech. Demonstrations were organized in Washington, DC on March 22 and in London, Cairo, Paris, and Kuwait, on March 23. Dublin is holding an Awareness Day for Nabeel Rajab. Click here for more information about actions in your city.

Human Rights First has closely monitored Nabeel’s case and advocated on his behalf. As Human Rights First’s Brian Dooley has said, “Nabeel Rajab should be immediately released from prison. Human Right First considers his conviction to be politically-motivated and a denial of his freedom of expression. He should be released immediately and the conviction quashed. He should be allowed to go about his activities as a human rights defender without being harassed or jailed by the authorities.  If Bahrain keeps jailing peaceful voices like Nabeel, it will soon find only the violent ones will be left. It’s time to allow peaceful dissent and stop these prosecutions and convictions.”

To help free Nabeel, join Human Rights First and other human rights defenders and organizations around the world in taking action!

From Amnesty International:

Bahrain: warning over Nabeel Rajab protest planned for tomorrow

Posted: 22 March 2013

‘Not only is Nabeel Rajab unfairly imprisoned, the authorities are now trying to silence his supporters and family’ – Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui

The Bahraini authorities must respect freedom of expression and assembly during a week of demonstrations planned to protest against the imprisonment of the human rights defender Nabeel Rajab, said Amnesty International this evening.

Rajab, who Amnesty has adopted as a prisoner of conscience, was imprisoned for three years last August for calling for and participating in “illegal gatherings”. In December his sentence was reduced to two years.

Organisers of the “Don’t forget Nabeel Rajab” campaign sought official permission to demonstrate tomorrow but had their application rejected by the authorities. Despite fears of excessive use of force by the security forces to disperse the protest, organisers still plan to go ahead. Organisers of rallies in Bahrain have told Amnesty that they have submitted their requests in advance to the head of Public Security only to have their applications rejected – with disturbance to traffic given as one of the main reasons by the authorities.

Amnesty is reiterating its call on the Bahraini authorities to immediately release Nabeel Rajab and other prisoners of conscience in the country.

Amnesty International Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui said:

“The authorities cannot use the excuse that demonstrations are not officially authorised to quell protest.

“The Bahraini authorities need to come up with alternatives not bans. In light of tomorrow’s planned demonstration, security forces must refrain from excessive use of force or carrying out arbitrary arrests.

“The government of Bahrain has demonstrated time and again its disregard for basic human rights. Not only is Nabeel Rajab unfairly imprisoned, the authorities are now trying to silence his supporters and family.”

This latest ban is part of a broader pattern of aggressive handling of protests by the Bahraini authorities which has resulted in unlawful killings and arbitrary detention. In February, the security forces opened fire on demonstrators who had been calling for greater freedoms, resulting in the death of 16-year-old Hussein Ahmad al-Jazairi – who was shot at close range during a protest close to Daih village – and 20-year-old Mahmoud ‘Issa Mohammed, who was hit in the head with a tear gas canister during protests in Nabeh Saleh village.

Related articles

• Nabeel Rajab: Global Week of Action (codepinkalert.org)
• Full report of observer mission to trial of Nabeel Rajab in Bahrain now available (thoolen.wordpress.com)
• Free Bahraini political prisoners, petition for Obama (dearkitty1.wordpress.com)
• Bahrain regime kills teenager (dearkitty1.wordpress.com)
• Bahraini court acquits leading rights activist (dailystar.com.lb)
• Bahrain oppression continues (dearkitty1.wordpress.com)
• Bahrain urged to release prisoners (bbc.co.uk)
• Bahrain regime’s toxic teargas, film (dearkitty1.wordpress.com)

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