URGENT ACTION

HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER LOSES FINAL APPEAL

On 31 December 2018, Bahrain’s Court of Cassation upheld the five-year prison sentence of human rights defender and prisoner of conscience Nabeel Rajab. He was convicted of “spreading false rumours in time of war”, “insulting a foreign country" and “insulting public authorities”, in relation to peaceful tweets about the conflict in Yemen and torture allegations in Jaw prison. Nabeel Rajab has therefore exhausted all legal remedies in this case. Amnesty International will continue to call for his immediate and unconditional release and for his convictions and sentences to be quashed.

NO FURTHER ACTION IS REQUESTED. MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO SENT APPEALS.

On 31 December 2018 the Court of Cassation in Bahrain reviewed the case of human rights defender Nabeel Rajab and issued its verdict on the same day, confirming his five years’ prison sentence. He is held in Jaw prison, south of Manama.

On 21 February 2018, the High Criminal Court convicted and sentenced Nabeel Rajab to five years in prison in relation to peaceful comments posted and retweeted on his Twitter account about the killing of civilians in the Yemen conflict by the Saudi Arabia-led coalition, and allegations of torture in Jaw prison. He was convicted and sentenced under the Bahraini Penal Code of “spreading false rumours in time of war” (Article 133), “insulting a foreign country" (Article 215) and “insulting public authorities” (Article 216). On 5 June 2018, the sentence was upheld on appeal.  

Nabeel Rajab is also serving a two-year prison sentence that was upheld on 15 January 2018 by the Court of Cassation with regards to TV interviews he gave in 2015 and 2016. He was convicted of “disseminating false news, statements and rumours about the internal situation of the kingdom that would undermine its prestige and status”. 

Nabeel Rajab is a prominent human rights defender and the President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights. His arrest on 13 June 2016 sparked world-wide condemnation. Nabeel Rajab is kept abreast of the actions taken on his behalf by Amnesty International, along with several other human rights organizations. He has expressed his gratitude many times and, has encouraged and lifted the morale of those supporting him when the situation seemed desperate.  

Amnesty International will not give up on Nabeel Rajab. It will continue to monitor Nabeel Rajab’s situation and will respond to any developments as appropriate.

NAME AND PREFFERED PRONOUN: Nabeel Rajab (him/his)

THIS IS THE 23RD AND FINAL OUTPUT FOR UA 249/14

LINK TO PREVIOUS UA: HTTPS://WWW.AMNESTY.ORG/EN/DOCUMENTS/MDE11/9566/2018/EN/