Bahrain grants bail for rights activist Muhafda’s trial continues

DUBAI, Jan 18, (AFP): A Bahrain court has released leading Shiite rights activist Yousif al-Muhafda on bail while his trial continues over charges of spreading false news to harm security, Amnesty International said.
Muhafda, who is the acting deputy head of the local non-governmental organisation, the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, was released on bail of 100 dinars ($265/198 euros), Amnesty said late on Thursday.
He should return to court on Jan 29 when witnesses are expected to testify, it said.
Muhafda was arrested on Dec 17 in Manama while he was taking pictures of clashes between police and protesters, on the day he tweeted a picture of an injured protester.
On Dec 20, the public prosecution reportedly claimed that publishing the picture resulted in “protests and acts of sabotage that disrupted security and order on the same day,” said Amnesty.
He has been charged with spreading false news with the intention of causing damage to state security, it said.
The Gulf state has been shaken by unrest since its forces in March 2011 crushed a month of popular Shiite-led protests demanding greater rights and an end to what they said was discrimination by the Sunni royal family.
The International Federation for Human Rights says 80 people have died since the start of the Arab Spring-inspired uprising on Feb 14, 2011.