arabic born september human rights activist opposition leader president prominent international human rights activist member middle east division deputy secretary general chairman member president started human rights activity 1990s uprising going involved campaigning behalf workers countries known pioneering use social networking important element human rights campaigning brought conflict authorities reporters borders described targeted authorities human rights activities uprising led numerous protests clashed political authorities security forces criticizing government sharply critical role allies including united_states following protests formula race april attracted media attention arrested incarcerated times july detained sentenced months prison having insulted twitter message recently august detention sentenced years imprisonment protest related charges verdict drawn criticism western allies human rights organizations december sentence reduced years prison appeal december court denied early release released serving years prison arrested october criticizing government twitter november released bail pending trial january human rights work recognized internationally society remains figure controversy labeled informal leader uprising hero protesters viewed government supporters biography born september middle class family married children finished secondary school education specializing science received bachelor_of_arts degree india earns living building contractor trade february announced intention close business called government harassment nephew political figures locked taking uprising cousin prominent human rights activist arrested february human rights activism early years interview spoke earliest human rights activities student secondary school described particularly significant formative experiences events affected colleague dropped second floor escape covered police stormed school second incident dear teacher arrested voice started rise annoying caught school wall writing human rights statements school walls given choice submitted police switch school took easy way student choose switch school traveled india study received bachelor degree financial problems father ill prevented obtaining master degree returned find employment college years remained independent political according despite lacking clear understanding constitutes culture human rights knowledge human rights standards norms active general students union speaking forms injustice involved international campaigning specific issues according involved organized human rights activities 1990s uprising discussed idea setting human rights organization introduced colleagues held secret meetings founded committees ending oppressive state security law period able begin working openly field human rights founders human rights organizations subsequently fell founders following wide ranging political reforms government allowed independent human rights groups operate worked found nonprofit non governmental organization works promote human rights training program officer senior researcher later vice president later took president position held august found president newly found rights group workers rights founders workers protection committee countries april passed law banning unmarried workers living residential areas issued press release condemning decision promoting negative racist attitudes workers vice president said willing rest benefits people hard work suffering refuse live equality dignity solution force workers urge companies improve living conditions workers accommodate large numbers workers inadequate space improve standard living october elected asia years regional non governmental organization based malaysian capital works defend rights workers reduce risks communities vulnerable including hiv promote health rights february addressed world congress death penalty conference geneva subject workers saudi_arabia drew attention exceptional vulnerability workers countries abuses rights violations work international human rights organizations december member north african division position held february july appointed position deputy secretary general permanent representative countries member arab working group media monitoring recognition received presented annually award citation praised having worked considerable personal advance cause democratic freedoms civil rights citizens september received british prize facilitate going humanitarian human rights work december arabic american organization democracy human rights listed leaders arab spring activists included led won index censorship freedom expression award sponsored aims recognise activists fought repression struggled challenge political climates perceptions recipient liberty given human rights won prize long courageous fight fundamental human rights reports government harassment prior according line subject ongoing harassment including physical attacks campaigns media official radio channels newspapers close government human rights watch reporters borders described targeted authorities human rights activities postal campaign targeting wife thousands letters allegedly distributed according report july beaten whilst attending peaceful demonstration solidarity stated suffered spinal injury broken finger fractured arm head injury hospitalised weeks result government crackdown summer photograph published number times pro government accusing supporting terrorist network active publishing false reports information published photo naming supporters aforementioned network days later published file alleged terrorist network according human rights watch file referred having officially accused involvement terrorist network claim removed following day time authorities imposed ban preventing engaging new business difficult earn living ban subsequently lifted official explanation mid august number opposition activists arrested according order arrest issued september cancelled october subject travel ban period involvement uprising background beginning february saw sustained pro democracy protests centered pearl roundabout capital wider arab spring authorities responded night raid february later known bloody thursday left protesters dead injured protests continued month reaching participants nation citizens thousand troops police arrived request government month state emergency declared authorities cracked protests smaller scale protests clashes continued occur daily areas outside business districts rare marches center capital city april people died start uprising january near daily clashes protesters police ongoing role uprising uprising vocal critic human rights violations kept criticizing government state emergency unlike opposition parties organized protests villages insisted staging capital led protests putting security forces named english unofficial leader february movement atlantic labelled facto leader uprising said normal activist engaged planning protests despite acknowledging dangerous costly expressed happiness role uprising hand foreign policy mentioned big portion community think majority sect muslims muslims comprise substantial minority hold positions power largest opposition party movement albeit internationally recognized moderate tightly allied secular opposition parties source opposition taken anti stands movement fear particularly bring power early hours march group masked men armed rifles accompanied dozens security forces broke house detained files computer confiscated reported vehicle verbally beating threatening rape claimed kicked refused loved prime minister taken detention facility suburb briefly questioned know released april officials publicly accused photos posted twitter account body died detention april announced referred military prosecutor legal action photos showed slash marks signs physical abuse stated accurate researcher seen body prior burial prison guards subsequently charged death incidents april december tear gas grenades fired house village unknown incident identified grenades thrown family compound manufactured munitions security forces access tear gas penetrated adjacent home year old mother suffers respiratory disease causing great distress gas grenades fired house time according grenades smaller mid april assault marks identifying manufacturer according authorities organized anonymous campaign targeting later month stated uncle years old arrested activist tortured relationship stated prevented airport security staff traveling attend international freedom expression exchange meeting conference june called dialogue begin early july military issued order arrest prominent accused spreading false news statements situation promoting hatred specific religious sect addition king released day november took member international fact finding mission released page report gave recommendations addressing human rights violations december human rights activists received death threats twitter retired security official january leading night peaceful protest hospitalized briefly detained injuries alleged beating opposition blamed security forces twitter account denied accusation saying police found lying ground referred hospital february briefly detained tried march family location symbolic pearl roundabout explained took model encourage people different ages protests following media attention protests formula race april government launched legal crackdown arrested released times arrest arrested international airport arrival lebanon day scheduled court hearing relating march attended march said believed arrest linked appearance world tomorrow television talk associated interview bbc following day issued statement arrested committing number crimes arrest stated attend trial tool human rights defenders people calling democracy justice charged insulting statutory body twitter lawyer said online newspaper identified criticizing likely cause suggested ministry carry proper investigations civilian deaths confirmed report labelled findings general cases flawed biased favour pleaded guilty charge prosecutor decided detention days public prosecution extended detention week lawyers present court solidarity pleaded guilty stated charge despite granted bail kept detention charge organizing illegal protests activists accused authorities trying find way keeping streets spokesman united_nations high commissioner human rights said concerned arrest australian senate unanimously passed ruling demanding government direct representations authorities immediate release designated prisoner conscience called immediate release human rights groups political party demanded release called secretary general united_nations intervene release political cartoonist created cartoon spending days detention released bail placed travel ban june arrest briefly released arrested june charge publicly insulting residents dominated neighbourhood ties ruling dynasty fifth charge brought period month human rights watch rights group participating session demanded release released bail june facing charges relating twitter activity organizing illegal protests july arrest july banned traveling days later arrested dozen masked security personnel house hours court sentenced month prison criticized prime minister court found insulted observatory described arrest arbitrary detention said knows prime minister popular weren need money residents welcomed charge publicly people questioning patriotism expressions posted social networking websites lawyer said verdict unexpected charge insult normally punished fine human rights human rights watch nineteen members united_states congress called release rights group issued joint statement condemning sentence political parties held sit solidarity said hey arrested send message activists arrested like talk media appeal scheduled august acquitted charge remained custody sentence according judge decided release satisfied evidence forward trial complained physical psychological torture prison solitary confinement dark cell lawyer reported august sentence august sentenced year prison charges total years charges involvement illegal practices gatherings calling unauthorized marches social networking sites participation illegal assembly participation illegal gathering calling march prior public prosecutors stated supporters violence including road petrol bomb attacks public prosecution produced evidence accused called public speeches demonstration confront public security personnel violence law enforcement officers resulting deaths confrontations public prosecutor said appeal scheduled place september placed jaw prison august allowed minute family told solitary confinement access newspapers domestic reactions country minister state information cousin twice declared enjoyed fair trial access legal assistance said action taken claiming human rights activist fact engaging political activity justification similar offered officially appointed trial health workers wife accused minister lying international media film footage played press conference said court proceedings clearly demonstrated absence justice independent judiciary son quoted father saying jail years lawyer said government sending message emphasised speech week referring duty protect peaceful good citizens seek power said reason targeted prevent continuing legitimate peaceful human rights work political party said sentence evidence government find solution crisis noting political prisoners conscience regime right use hostages security solution ongoing political crisis researcher based remarked king unfortunately beginning sound like uncle number political human rights activists held sit solidarity headquarters august august thousands protesters filled kilometer highway chanting release international reactions number independent united_nations experts including human rights defenders special freedom peaceful assembly association expressed concern government campaign persecution directed rights activists called immediate release urged authorities respect rights peaceful assembly freedom expression release detained exercising legitimate freedoms delay united_states european_union criticized sentence spokesperson described sentence deeply fundamental freedom participate civil acts peaceful called government steps build confidence society begin meaningful dialogue political opposition civil society actions like sentencing cause divisions society criticized reaction late insufficient highlighted testimony stated case bit complicated answers reporters took long release said reaction insufficient turn ing blind eye human rights violations criticized silent reaction arrest lack pressure administration appears linked government willingness added european_union noted verdict concern expected appeal process spokesperson affirmed right freedom expression called dialogue mean solve political crisis disturbed harsh sentence imposed hope reviewed appeal spokesperson added spokesperson foreign office expressed concern length sentence called opposition activists avoid violence illegal acts urge act cases right individuals peaceful protest freedom expression fundamental modern democracy respected spokesperson added sentence sharply criticized rights groups rights groups signed joint appeal release human rights found verdict shocking standards human rights added regime seen human rights reform jailed world prominent activists prison years referring dark day justice said use blatant ruthless tactics suppress voices leave international community illusion path reform human rights watch argued government exercise right free expression peaceful assembly demanded release index censorship reporters borders criticized sentence called immediate release reported speculation case political chip efforts prepare ground fresh political dialogue urged western allies added verdict sends signal government taking harder line protests history professor said sentence represents end reforms trial appeal december court appeal reduced sentence years prison cleared insulting police court upheld charge illegal gathering expected released according wife united_states assistant secretary state called authorities drop charges related non violent activism criticized judiciary called court decision bizarre said defense team faced obstacles trial appeal including international experts introduced court defense witnesses denied entry international airport defense team denied access submitted prosecution director middle_east north_africa commented appeal court gesture reduce sentence year completely hollow given shouldn serving time prison place human rights organizations including human rights condemned ruling court appeal called immediate release december court denied early release served quarters sentence according law prisoner eligible early release serving quarters sentence lawyer stated court gave reason rejecting early release release released prison serving term years welcomed secretary general travelling meet soon released immense pleasure friend colleague waiting moment long time said happy called release prisoners respect human rights october arrest october arrested summoned returned month advocacy campaign europe criticized government called international action charged publicly insulting official institutions criticized twitter allegedly ideological joined levant month earlier security officer terminated employment joining calling officers defect said acknowledged publishing comments twitter hearing october denied charges released second hearing november hearing scheduled january said targeted peaceful advocacy human rights democracy regrets criticism united_states critical role uprising july interview expressed disappointment silence inconsistent way standards democracy human rights applied countries problems good relations december interview criticized support royal region contrasted hard attitude shown syria libya soft attitude allies world tomorrow episode broadcast accused opposing democracy asked russia sell arms syria selling arms july shortly arrest noted presence struggle monarchy difficult support accompanied support silence international community seen giving green light repression attacks human rights defenders online activity active user online media human rights work particular social networking sites facebook twitter stopped posting internet forums order encourage support social network based campaigning significant time effort twitter account created march posting arabic forbes magazine list arabs twitter ranked number followers currently september ranked number foreign minister occasion personally congratulated minister use twitter human rights abuses brought repeated conflict authorities april threatened prosecution publication twitter account allegedly fabricated image body showing signs torture custody threats withdrawn prison guards charged death described threat charge arab world involving publishing information twitter illustration government hostility freedom expression internet freedom twitter based campaigning led firstly detention weeks weeks charge insulting statutory body twitter week organizing illegal protests published critical leading criticism authorities international human rights organizations month prison sentence criticizing prime minister eventually august given consecutive year prison sentences illegal political activities involving use social networking sites august spending half sentence acquitted twitter charge criticized prime minister remained jail appealing prison sentence
Nabeel Rajab