Bahrain Mirror- Exclusive: In a first comment made by an official party on the 2-year jail term verdict issued by cassation court against Nabeel Rajab over television interviews, the European Union called on the Bahraini government to release prominent human rights defender Rajab for humanitarian grounds.

The EU said in a statement on Wednesday (January 17, 2018) "The EU has learnt of the decision of the Bahraini Court of Cassation to uphold the two years prison sentence against the Human Rights activist Nabeel Rajab."

It added "The EU has been following the case of Mr. Rajab very closely. He has been serving consecutive terms in prison since his arrest in spite of his poor state of health. We reiterate our call on the Bahraini government to release Mr. Rajab, including on humanitarian grounds."

"The Government of Bahrain should show commitment to its own reform agenda by upholding freedom of expression. Suppressing voices of dissent can only contribute to fuel resentment and instability," it further stated.

The EU concluded its statement by encouraging all parties in Bahrain "to relaunch a dialogue conducive to national reconciliation in a peaceful and constructive manner."

Arabic Version