Veteran Bahraini Blogger Refused Prison Release
On August 30, 2012, the public prosecutor in Bahrain refused to release Bahraini blogger Ahmad Al Reda, and extended his jail sentence for another 15 days under charges of “crowding” and “breaching public security.”
Al Reda was arrested on May 16, 2011, without a warrant, after an interview with the BBC in which he criticized the proposed union between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
According to Bahraini officials, Al Reda was arrested for possessing Molotov cocktails and for his “willingness to demonstrate.” According to its citizens and onlookers, the Bahraini government is known for producing false accusations against activists that speak out against the government.
Al Reda, aged 35, is a staunch opponent of the Bahraini government. His first arrest came during the "Uprising of the ‘90s" in Bahrain, a time period from 1994 to 1999 which saw a series of protests against the government that led to approximately 40 civilian deaths. During that uprising, Al Reda was brutally tortured and lost the ability of hearing in one of his ears.
