Bahrain Live Coverage: Activist Nabeel Rajab Released from Detention

Nabeel Rajab's remarks on release from detention today (English translation at 1605 GMT)

See also Syria (and Beyond) Live Coverage: UN Condemns Houla "Massacre"...As Assad's Forces Shell Hama
Sunday's Bahrain Live Coverage: Regime on Human Rights "You Are Biased. P.S. We'll Sue You"

---

2030 GMT: The Bahrain Center for Human Rights has issued a statement on behalf of its founder, Abdulhadi Alkhawaja, who ended his 110-day hunger strike today.

Alkhawaja informed his family, "In spite of not succeeding in achieving the main demand of his hunger strike, 'Freedom or Death', he was still able to achieve his overall goal of shedding light on the ongoing human rights situation in Bahrain."

At the same time, Alkhawaja had to consider "the policy of the Bahraini Authorities in force-feeding him, which was imposed since the 23rd of April, a blatant violation and torture according to international regulations". So, "in response to countless requests from those in solidarity with him, and his inmates in the detention center", he was ending the fast.

Alkhawaja, who appeared in court last week, said he would no longer attend hearings, including one scheduled tomorrow. He demanded "his immediate release and the dropping of all malicious charges and the [life] sentence issued by the National Safety Military Court", as well as "the necessary guarantees that would enable him to continue his activities in defending human rights in absolute freedom".

1605 GMT: Activist Nabeel Rajab's first remarks after his release from detention today (see video at top of entry):

This was the first experiance for me to spend this long in prison, It was a beneficial experience and it certainly Strengthened my beliefs that we are ruled by a tyrant and we have to continue the fight against this injustice and tyranny, until we fulfill all our rights that we went out for on 14 February. I confirm that the fight and struggle will continue non-stop until we gain our rights.

1325 GMT: Maryam Alkhawaja has a significant update about her father and fellow human rights activist Abdulhadi:

Abdulhadi Alkhawaja on his 110th day #hungerstrike announces he will stop his hunger strike today #bahrain

— Maryam Alkhawaja (@MARYAMALKHAWAJA) May 28, 2012

Alkhawaja's lawyer Mohamed Al Jishis said Alkhawaja was ending the fast this evening because "the strike has generally achieved its results to shed the light on the case of the detainees in Bahrain".

0755 GMT: Human rights activist Nabeel Rajab has been freed on bail this morning, according to his lawyer Mohamed Al Jishi.

Rajab, the head of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, was detained on 5 May at Bahrain International Airport as he returned from Lebanon. He was held over alleged abuse of Twitter to incite riots and attacks against police officers and participation in illegal marches.

Rajab was technically bailed on the Twitter charge last week but remained behind bars on the other allegation. This morning he was released on a bail of 300 Bahraini Dinars (about $800) and prohibited from leaving the country.

The activist's next court hearing is 17 June.