Bahrain has accused a leading human rights activist of fabricating photos and has summoned him for questioning in an ongoing crackdown against anti-government protesters.
The state-run Bahrain News Agency says Nabeel Rajab is accused of tampering with images of a man who died in custody last week. The activist claims the man died from the effects of torture and posted a photo online that shows his body covered with cuts and bruises.
We spoke to Nabeel Rajab last week. Listen to Cecily Hilleary’s interview with him:
|
Authorities claim the detained protester died after struggling with guards. BNA says a military prosecutor will question Rajab about the photo.
Rajab is the head of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights.
Also Monday, Bahrain is questioning the former editor-in-chief of Al Wasat newspaper for what the government calls the paper's "unethical" coverage of the protests.
The editor, Mansoor al-Jamri, has called the move an attempt to "silence independent news" in Bahrain.
Opposition protesters in Bahrain have been demanding the resignation of Bahrain's Sunni-led government and calling for creation of a political system that gives a greater voice to the country's majority Shi'ites.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.