Case History: Sayed Yousif Al-Muhafdha
On 11 March 2013, human rights defender Mr Sayed Yousif Al-Muhafdha was cleared of all charges relating to spreading false information on social media network Twitter. The charges date to 17 December 2012, when Sayed Yousif Al-Muhafdha was arrested for allegedly spreading false information on Twitter, following his participation in and documenting of a peaceful protest held in Manama. The human rights defender was held in pre-trial detention for one month and finally released on bail on 17 January 2013.
Sayed Yousif Al-Muhafdha is the acting vice president of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR).
On 11 March 2013, human rights defender Mr Sayed Yousif Al-Muhafdha was cleared of all charges relating to spreading false information on social media network Twitter.
The charges date to 17 December 2012, when Sayed Yousif Al-Muhafdha was arrested for allegedly spreading false information on Twitter, following his participation in and documenting of a peaceful protest held in Manama. The human rights defender was held in pre-trial detention for one month and finally released on bail on 17 January 2013.
While Front Line Defenders welcomes the release of Sayed Yousif Al-Muhafdha, it expresses serious concern at the judicial harassment and excessive period of pre-trial detention faced by the human rights defender.
On 17 January 2013, human rights defender Mr Sayed Yousif Al-Muhafdhawas released on bail pending trial after paying 100 Bahraini Dinars (approximately 200 Euro). He had been in detention since 17 December 2012. The human rights defender faces charges of spreading false information on Twitter, a trial date has been set for 29 January 2013.
On 18 December 2012, the Public Prosecution Office ordered Sayed Yousif Al-Muhafdha to be detained for a period of seven days, following his arrest the previous day after attending a peaceful protest in Manama. On 25 December 2012, the human rights defender was brought before the Public Prosecutor, during which his period of detention was extended by 15 days.
