Top human rights activist rearrested in Bahrain: family

Bahraini human rights activist Nabeel Rajab looks on at his home in the village of Bani Jamrah, West of Manama, on November 2, 2014 upon his release on bail. A Bahraini court freed prominent Shiite activist Rajab but barred him from travel until his trial resumes over remarks on Twitter deemed insulting to public institutions, a judicial source said. AFP PHOTO/

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AFP) — Leading Bahraini human rights activist Nabeel Rajab was rearrested on Monday by security forces in the Gulf island state, his family said on Twitter.

Rajab, who was detained in 2014 for tweets deemed insulting to the authorities before his release on health grounds, was apprehended in a dawn raid on his home in the mainly Shiite village of Bani Jamra near Manama, according to his family.

“Rajab was arrested from his house and his house was searched,” Sumaya Rajab, his wife, posted on Twitter.

The activist, who has led anti-government marches and heads the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, had previously served two years in jail for taking part in unauthorized protests.

He was sentenced to six months in jail for his tweets but pardoned in July 2015 after King Hamad issued a royal pardon “for health reasons”.

Bahrain, home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, has been rocked by unrest since security forces crushed Shiite-led protests in 2011 demanding a constitutional monarchy and an elected prime minister.

Washington had previously called for Rajab’s release, while international rights groups have condemned the trials against opponents of the Sunni regime.

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