Bahrain arrests human rights activist Nabeel Rajab

A prominent human rights activist, arrested by Bahraini authorities at the weekend, is due to appear in court on Sunday, according to the Bahrain Center for Human Rights. Nabeel Rajab, who was arrested at Manama airport after attending a human rights seminar in Beirut, faces two charges in connection with organising and participating illegal protests in the Gulf state. “Rajab’s trial is due to begin its first hearing Sunday 6th May, 2012. The charges leveled against him are: ‘participating in illegal assembly and calling others to join’,” the organisation said in a statement on its website. “In addition, it seems that Rajab could face more charges as he was summoned for interrogation on charges of “insulting the statutory bodies” on the 26th April 2012,” it added. Rajab, a key figure in drawing attention to human rights issues in the Gulf state during the Arab Spring protests, was detained by Bahraini forces last year. Bahrain's Interior Ministry said that an order had been issued for Rajab’s arrest, but provided no additional details. Bahrain has been racked by unrest for more than a year by mainly Shi'ite protesters demanding more democracy and an end to what they see as discrimination in the Sunni-ruled kingdom. Human rights groups expressed their concern at Rajab’s and other human rights activists arrest. “The Gulf Centre for Human Rights and the Bahrain Center for Human Rights continue to express grave concern in regards to the targeting of human rights defenders in Bahrain by the authorities,” said a statement. “The authorities in Bahrain have used many methods in attempting to prevent and/or limit human rights defenders in Bahrain from carrying out their work of documenting and reporting on human rights violations in the country,” it added.