BBC2: Newsnight -Bahrain’s crackdown on pro-democracy activists [VIDEO]

This report covers the Bahraini governments crackdown on human rights activists including Ja’afar Hasabi – a British citizen who was arrested and charged with trying to overthrow the Bahraini government which could carry the death penalty

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This report covers the Bahraini governments crackdown on human rights activists including Ja’afar Hasabi – a British citizen who was arrested and charged with trying to overthrow the Bahraini government which could carry the death penalty

Watch Video

A British citizen is among dozens of Shia activists who have been rounded up by the Bahraini authorities and tortured for their alleged role in campaigning against the ruling family of the Gulf Arab state.

Jaffar al-Hasabi, a 38-year-old London mini-cab driver, has been charged under the country’s harsh anti-terrorism laws, along with 22 others, with “forming an illegal organisation” plotting to “overthrow the government and dissolve the constitution” and fundraising for and planning to carry out terrorist acts

Mr al-Hasabi’s wife has told Newsnight she believes the Foreign Office has held off doing more to secure his release because of British interests in the region, as Tim Whewell reports.

Broadcast on Thursday 23 September 2010.