Bahrain activist fears arrest on incitement charges

Nabeel Rajab, a veteran human rights activist, tells al-Araby al-Jadeed his suitcase is packed as he waits to be taken into custody, but says he knows of no reason why he is wanted.

MENA

2 min read

Bill Law

26 February, 2015

Rajab said his bags are packed as he waits to be taken into custody [AFP]

The veteran Bahraini human rights campaigner, Nabeel Rajab, has said he is facing charges of incitement against the government and expects to be arrested "at any time".

Rajab is already appealing against a six-month sentence he received for posting a message on Twitter last year suggesting that the security institutions in Bahrain were "ideological incubators" for extremism.

Speaking from his home in Bani Jamrah near Manama, Rajab told al-Araby: "I received a letter telling me to come into the public prosecutor's office this morning. I expect to be arrested at any time. My suitcase is packed and waiting by the door."

Rajab has been in and out of jail several times for peacefully protesting against human rights abuses. He finished a two year prison term last spring and travelled in Europe promoting a civil rights agenda after his release.

Rajab said his lawyers had informed him that he would be charged with inciting hatred against the regime, which carries a three-year prison term.

"This is part of a broader campaign to finish off people in the opposition and the human rights community."

I received a letter telling me to come into the public prosecutor's office this morning.

- Nabeel Rajab

He told al-Araby that he had been careful since his Twitter-linked conviction and had avoided demonstrations, even those approved by the government. However he has continued to speak with the international press.

"I haven’t broken any laws, I have not given them any reason to arrest me but it is a fact that I am one of the last people talking who is not in jail or outside the country."

He said the government "does not want to hear any criticism regardless of who it comes from. They only want to hear praise".

Rajab warned that silencing peaceful protest on the political and human rights fronts was "taking Bahrain down a dark and dangerous road".

He added: "Putting people like me and Ali Salman in jail will convince young Bahrainis that our way doesn't work and they will think that violence is the only road to follow. We are heading toward greater instability in Bahrain and across the region.”

The government of Bahrain did not respond to a request for comment.