Bahrain jails five people over critical tweets

Bahrain has jailed five people over critical tweets, as the Gulf state further clamps down on opposition in the country.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab

01 April, 2018

Five suspects were detained for critical tweets [Getty]

Five Bahrainis have been jailed over critical tweets, as the Gulf state continues its crackdown on opposition to the Manama regime.

Bahrain said the suspects were arrested for tweets that "defame individuals" and "incite sedition", Gulf News reported.

The director general of anti-corruption and economic and electronic security said the suspects include three public sector workers, one worker in the private sector and an unemployed individual.

The suspects were "involved in setting up tendentious accounts on which they posted abusive tweets, while others provided them with information and helped them to post them", the agency added.

It also warned that it would name and shame suspects.

Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad al-Khalifa of the royal guard said the state would enforce a zero-tolerance policy for anyone who criticises the king or country's other leaders.

Bahrain's government has rolled out a brutal crackdown on opposition in the country, following popular protests in 2011 during the Arab Spring.

Many of the demonstrators were part of Bahrain's disenfranchised Shia majority.

Earlier this week, Bahrain said it would "hunt down" online dissidents, including those abroad.

Activists such as Nabeel Rajab have been jailed for tweets critical of the government.