DUBAI: Bahrain has extended by seven days the detention of a leading human rights activist who was arrested on Monday during a demonstration in the Gulf Arab island kingdom, his lawyer said yesterday.

Sayed Yousif al-Muhafda, from the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, was being investigated on charges of spreading false news on Twitter after he was arrested by police during a march in the capital Manama, Mohammed Al Jishi said. All rallies and gatherings are banned in Bahrain, which hosts the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet and which has been in turmoil since pro-democracy protests led by its Shia majority erupted last year.

Jishi said that Muhafda had not taken part in the demonstration. “He was there only as an observer,” he said.

Muhafda was detained last month for a week on charges of taking part in an illegal gathering and an unauthorised march.

On Monday, police fired stun grenades to break up dozens of protesters and arrested about 25 people, including Muhafda, during rallies in the centre of Manama. 

The Interior Ministry said on Twitter late on Monday that “police confronted illegal rallies and rioting in Manama and arrested a number of lawbreakers”. It gave no further details.

Bahrain has stepped up efforts to end the unrest in recent months and several activists have been arrested or jailed for organising or taking part in unlicensed protests. The government also detained four men in October on charges of defaming the king on Twitter. Reuters