It’s been a grim 2018 for partisans of free expression in the Gulf, said Joe Stork in an article published on the LobeLog website, mentioning the final appeals court rulings on the long prison terms of the leading human rights figures in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) confirmed that it “will not forget Nabeel Rajab”.

The official Twitter account of prominent Bahraini human rights activist and political prisoner, Nabeel Rajab, said that the authorities of Central Jaw Prison, have exercised exceptional harassment against him.

Human rights organizations from around the world have sent an open letter to the Bahraini authorities calling for the immediate release of Nabeel Rajab, the repeal of his convictions and sentences, and dropping all charges against him.

Amnesty International addressed on Thursday (December 13th, 2018) the Bahraini authorities in an urgent action appeal, demanding the immediate release of imprisoned human rights activist Nabeel Rajab. The organization confirmed that Rajab was sentenced for expressing his opinion in peaceful tweets.

The upcoming parliamentary elections in Bahrain, scheduled for November 24, 2018, are occurring in a repressive political environment that is not conducive to free elections, Human Rights Watch said in a statement.

The selection panel of the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, comprising independent figures from the world of human rights and chaired by the President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) Liliane Maury Pasquier, has drawn up the shortlist for the Prize in Prague.

More than 100 rights groups urged Bahrain Wednesday to "immediately release" high-profile activist Nabeel Rajab who is serving two separate jail sentences for alleged anti-government statements.

The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in the UN considered the deprivation of liberty of Nabeel Rajab, in contravention of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and due to discrimination based on political or other opinion and on his position as a leading human rights defender

Nabeel Rajab sent a letter from his prison in Jaw Central Prison in which he congratulated people on Eid Al-Adha. He said in a letter he published on his own Twitter account on Tuesday (August 21, 2018) "I apologize to my family and my daughter for not being able to spend this happy day with them. This wasn't my choice."

Bahrain’s detention of activist Nabeel Rajab is unlawful and violates his right to freedom of expression, U.N. human rights experts have found, calling on the kingdom to release him immediately with compensation.

UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention urged on Wednesday (August 15, 2018) Bahrain to immediately release prominent human rights activist Nabeel Rajab.

A special United Nations panel is urging Bahrain to immediately release imprisoned activist Nabeel Rajab, describing him as the victim of government-sponsored "persecution" for his political views in the island kingdom.

Adam Rajab, son of prominent human rights defender Nabeel Rajab, said that the family visited Nabeel for 30 minutes in jail and found that he suffers from back problems and difficulty in moving.

Bahrain Mirror (Reuters): France sought to assuage Bahrain on Friday after rare criticism by its ambassador to the kingdom over human rights and an honorary citizenship by Paris of a rights campaigner sparked anger in Manama, three sources said.

A celebration was held yesterday (June 18, 2018) in Paris on the occasion of granting the prominent Bahraini human rights defender Nabeel Rajab honorary citizenship of the city.

France's ambassador to Bahrain said France is closely following the situation of Mr. Nabil Rajab.

The council of Paris voted on granting prominent human rights defender Nabeel Rajab honorary citizen title for Paris and called for his release.

One day after a Bahraini court upheld 5-year jail term against Nabeel Rajab over tweets he posted on Twitter, the European Union called on the Bahraini government to release him.

The Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, the largest opposition political group in Bahrain, considered that the trial of Nabeel Rajab, president of Bahrain Center for Human Rights and prominent human rights defender, is “politicized and unfair”, condemning the 5-year jail term issued by the Appeals court against him over “expressing his opinion”.