U.N. calls on Bahrain to release Shia rights activist

The U.N. human rights office called on Bahrain on Friday to “unconditionally and immediately” release a rights campaigner, who was sentenced to two years in jail this week.

The U.N. human rights office called on Bahrain on Friday to “unconditionally and immediately” release a rights campaigner, who was sentenced to two years in jail this week.

Rajab, a leading figure in a 2011 pro-democracy uprising that was crushed by the government, was sentenced on Monday for allegedly making “false or malicious” statements about authorities.

“Human rights defenders in Bahrain must be able to carry out their work without fear of reprisals and should not face detention or prosecution for exercising their right to freedom of expression. Criticizing the government should not be a crime,” U.N. human rights spokeswoman Liz Throssell told a Geneva news briefing.