Dimitris Christopoulos, the president of the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights, speaks during a press conference, in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018. The international human rights umbrella group said Thursday that the life and security of Nabeel Rajab, an imprisoned activist in Bahrain, is at risk because he is denied adequate medical care and is held in the same cell with extremists he criticizes.
Dimitris Christopoulos, the president of the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights, speaks during a press conference, in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018. The international human rights umbrella group said Thursday that the life and security of Nabeel Rajab, an imprisoned activist in Bahrain, is at risk because he is denied adequate medical care and is held in the same cell with extremists he criticizes. Hussein Malla AP Photo
Dimitris Christopoulos, the president of the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights, speaks during a press conference, in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018. The international human rights umbrella group said Thursday that the life and security of Nabeel Rajab, an imprisoned activist in Bahrain, is at risk because he is denied adequate medical care and is held in the same cell with extremists he criticizes. Hussein Malla AP Photo

Nation & World

Rights group fears for detained Bahrain activist

The Associated Press

January 25, 2018 06:26 AM

BEIRUT

A human rights group says the life of an imprisoned activist in Bahrain is at risk because he has been denied adequate medical care and is being held with extremists to whom he is opposed.

Dimitris Christopoulos, head of the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights, said Thursday there were "alarming signals" about the health and security of Nabeel Rajab.

Rajab is serving a two-year sentence for "undermining the prestige of the state" by allegedly disseminating false news about the situation in Bahrain.

Rights groups say Rajab was hospitalized last year because of heart problems and ulcers.

Christopoulos says Rajab, a critic of Bahrain's government as well as extremists, has been made to share a cell with detainees accused of belonging to the Islamic State group.