Bahraini court sentences Nabeel Rajab to 2 years behind bars

A Bahraini court sentenced prominent human rights activist and president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) Nabeel Rajab, to a two-year prison term, in a case involving television interviews in 2015 and 2016, which the authorities said would "undermine its prestige".

"The minor Criminal Court issued its verdict on Monday against a defendant accused of a crime of broadcasting and spreading false news and rumors about the internal situation in the Kingdom, which undermines the state prestige and status. He was sentenced to 2 years in prison effective immediately," the head of the Northern Governorate Prosecution said.

He also added that the "defendant has the right to appeal this verdict before the Court of Appeal on dates specified by law, as it is a legal guarantee for any defendant."

Moreover, the head of Prosecution said, "The Prosecution has interrogated the defendant over what he was accused in the presence of his lawyers. He was confronted with the evidence against him and the court kept him in preventive detention, and then referred him to the competent criminal court. The case was deliberated in presence of the defendant's lawyer, was given the right to defense and exhibit legal defense, and was provided with all legal guarantees, until it [the court] issued its aforementioned verdict."

The Prosecution official claimed that what Rajab was convicted with has nothing to do with his rights activism, and it didn't undermine the right to freedom of opinion and expression. He also noted that Rajab has the right to appeal in dates specified by law.