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Six Months in Jail for a Tweet: Bahrain Update

VICE News was with prominent Bahraini human rights activist Nabeel Rajab on the day he was sentenced to six months in jail, for insulting the Bahraini government on Twitter.

On January 20, Bahrain sentenced its most prominent human rights activist to six months in jail — for a tweet. Nabeel Rajab, president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, was convicted of insulting the Bahraini government under Article 216 of the country's strict penal code.

VICE News was with Nabeel at his home, when he received his verdict. He had some harsh words for Britain, one of Bahrain's closest foreign allies.

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In December, the UK announced a landmark agreement to build a new naval base in Bahrain at the cost of 15 million pound sterling ($22.8 million). In a statement to VICE News, a spokesperson at the UK Foreign Office said, "The UK government is supporting the government of Bahrain in its reform program, including work to help Bahrain strengthen its human rights and justice sector."

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We Spoke to Bahraini Activist Nabeel Rajab, Hours Before He Was Sentenced to Six Months in Jail for a Tweet