Bahraini prosecutors interrogate activist
45 minutes ago
CAIRO, Egypt (AP) — A leading Shiite human rights activist in Bahrain said he was summoned Friday by Bahrain’s state prosecutors on suspicion of inciting against the kingdom’s Sunni rulers.
Abdul Hadi al-Khawaja said he was interrogated for four hours but that he isn’t certain whether charges would follow.
A prosecution official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with official policies in Bahrain, later said in a statement that al-Khawaja is also accused of promoting the use of violence against the regime.
Bahraini prosecutors interrogate activist
45 minutes ago
CAIRO, Egypt (AP) — A leading Shiite human rights activist in Bahrain said he was summoned Friday by Bahrain’s state prosecutors on suspicion of inciting against the kingdom’s Sunni rulers.
Abdul Hadi al-Khawaja said he was interrogated for four hours but that he isn’t certain whether charges would follow.
A prosecution official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with official policies in Bahrain, later said in a statement that al-Khawaja is also accused of promoting the use of violence against the regime.
The statement was made available to The Associated Press. It said a decision on whether to prosecute al-Khawaja would come once the case’s files were in order.
Al-Khawaja is a democracy advocate in the tiny Gulf island with a majority Shiite population but ruled by Sunnis. He has denied inciting to violence or to overturning the regime.
He was sentenced to a year in prison in 2004 but released early, then detained again in 2007 but released after popular protests.
In both instances he was charged with inciting against the kingdom.
The interrogation followed al-Khawaja’s speech Tuesday in which he called Bahrain’s rulers a “gang” that should be ousted.
The oil-refining and banking island if Bahrain is a close U.S. ally and also hosts the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet
http://www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/add/story