Nabeel Rajab, Bahrain activist, jailed for 3 years
A Bahraini Shiite Muslim youth holds a picture of prominent rights activist Nabeel Rajab during a demonstration in his solidarity along with jailed dissident Abdulhadi Khawaja in the village of Daih, west of Manama, on June 11, 2012. Bahraini authorities re-arrested Rajab on June 6, pending a probe into tweets deemed insulting to Sunnis, prosecutors said, nine days after he had been freed.
A leading Bahrain activist and founder of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights was jailed for three years today on charges of anti-government activity, reported Reuters.
Nabeel Rajab, already in jail for a separate case tied to his outspoken political Twitter activity, was given three one-year jail sentences today — one for each of the non-violent protests he helped lead, his lawyer told Reuters.
More from GlobalPost: In Bahrain, life in prison just for protesting
The Associated Press said the "unexpectedly stiff sentence" may undermine the ruling Sunni monarchy's promises of reform in response to months of massive anti-government protests in the small Gulf island nation, which is home to a majority Shiite population.
Rajab's attorney, Mohammed al-Jishi, said his client will appeal the verdict, according to AP.
Rajab was earlier improisoned for a tweet about the country's prime minister the court found offensive to Bahrainis, said Reuters.
Bahrain is home to the US Navy's 5th fleet.
The story you just read is not locked behind a paywall because listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Now more than ever, we need your help to support our global reporting work and power the future of The World. Can we count on you?