Hate ordeal for activist

Gulf Daily News – Vol XXVIII NO. 80 – Wednesday 8 June 2005

By ABDULRAHMAN FAKHRI

A HATE campaign against a Bahraini human rights activist has been stepped up. At first, Nabeel Rajab and his family, friends and staff at his private business were bombarded with mail and telephone text messages accusing him of spying and treason.

Now someone is sending letters including his picture on A4-size paper, again accusing him of spying.

The latest phase of the hate campaign started on Sunday, says the president of the now-dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights Nabeel Rajab.

Gulf Daily News – Vol XXVIII NO. 80 – Wednesday 8 June 2005

By ABDULRAHMAN FAKHRI

A HATE campaign against a Bahraini human rights activist has been stepped up. At first, Nabeel Rajab and his family, friends and staff at his private business were bombarded with mail and telephone text messages accusing him of spying and treason.

Now someone is sending letters including his picture on A4-size paper, again accusing him of spying.

The latest phase of the hate campaign started on Sunday, says the president of the now-dissolved Bahrain Centre for Human Rights Nabeel Rajab.

He says the harassment started on his return from Geneva, where he took part in a meeting of the United Nations (UN) Committee Against Torture, last month.

Anonymous, typed letters were sent to his family, while phone messages were sent to MPs, Shura Council members and government officials, accusing him of spying and treason since May 18 and a week later to the staff of his private company.

“Who is able to get hold of the addresses of my family members as well as their telephone numbers, some of which are not even listed ?” he asked.

Mr Rajab’s wife, Sumaya Mahdi Rajab, had also been targeted in the hate campaign, accusing her of being a spy.

The couple have filed a complaint at the Public Prosecution and provided evidence of the harassment.

The BCHR was among five groups that presented shadow reports during three days discussions with the committee in Geneva, Switzerland, from May 11 to 13.

“Both the National Committee for Martyrs and Victims of Torture spokesman Abdulraouf Al Shayeb and the centre’s vice-president Abdul Hadi Khawaja attended the meeting and received some hate mail, but not at the intensity at which I have been targeted,” said Mr Rajab