PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
RELEASE OF NABEEL RAJAB (19 July 2017)

That this House condemns the sentence passed on Nabeel Rajab, President of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, who was sentenced on 10 July 2017 to two years in prison; notes that Nabeel Rajab's offence was talking to journalists and therefore relates to freedom of expression and that the charge against him was for publishing and broadcasting false news that undermines the prestige of the state; highlights the fact that Nabeel Rajab's prosecution violates the principles of a fair trial enshrined in article 20 of Bahrain's constitution and article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; further notes that the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Committee Against Torture have called for his release; expresses concern that Nabeel Rajab has spent much of his time in pre-detention in solitary confinement and is currently in hospital due to health concerns which have been exacerbated by his treatment in prison; notes that Nabeel Rajab faces another trial on 7 August 2017 in relation to his Twitter account, for which he potentially faces up to 15 years in prison for criticising the war in Yemen and torture in Bahrain; notes that Nabeel Rajab also faces additional charges for writing articles in the New York Times and Le Monde; calls on the Government to condemn his sentence; and further calls on the Government of Bahrain immediately release Nabeel Rajab, commute his sentence, drop outstanding charges and to release all human rights defenders.

Sponsored by:
Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat)