BCHR President Nabeel Rajab Arrested
5 May, 2012 – Bahrain Center for Human Rights

The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) and the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) continue to express grave concern in regards to the targeting of human rights defenders in Bahrain by the authorities. 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.

Nabeel Rajab, director of the Gulf Centre for Human Rights, and president of the Bahrain Center for Human, was arrested upon arrival at the Bahrain airport on the 5th of May 2012. Prior to his arrest he stated: “Given that Bahrain in essence lacks a judiciary system that is independent and/or fair, and is far from being in line with international standards of a fair trial, I have decided to boycott the trial against myself. The judiciary system in Bahrain, today, is a tool used against human rights defenders and people calling for democracy and justice.”

Rajab’s trial is due to begin its first hearing tomorrow, Sunday 6th May, 2012. The charges leveled against him are: “participating in illegal assembly and calling others to join”. 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.
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