9.Mr. Nabeel Rajab, of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, was mentioned in the 2017 report of the Secretary-General (see A/HRC/36/31, para. 23 and Annex, para. 6). On 21June 2016, the Spokesperson of the High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed deep concern that Mr. Rajab was arrested on 13 June 2016 for “spreading false news and rumours about the internal situation in a bid to discredit Bahrain.” He had been subject to a travel ban since at least January 2015. The High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern that these and subsequent actions against Mr. Rajab were connected to his engagement with the Human Rights Council. He was reportedly denied medical treatment by prison administrations while he awaited the results of his appeal trial in ill-health until a 5 June2018 hearing which decided on an additional five-year sentence.He is now expected to pursue a final appeal before Bahrain’s Court of Cassation.On 25 June 2018 the Government stated that freedom of movement in Bahrain is guaranteed by law, and that Mr. Nabeel Rajab was not subject to reprisals for his cooperation with the United Nations, but that he is responsible for criminal offenses. Regarding the claims that Mr Rajab has not received medical care during his prison sentence, the Government stated that the Kingdom ensures and guarantees the safety and health of all citizens.

The 2018 report of the Secretary-General included references by multiple United Nations actors to a general context of harassment and intimidation against Bahraini civil society representatives seeking to cooperate with the United Nations (A/HRC/39/41 paras. 29–30). Those individuals included Mr. Sayed Ahmed Al-Wadaei and some of his close relatives, Ms. Ebtesam Abdulhusain Ali-Alsaegh, and Mr. Nabeel Rajab (A/HRC/39/41, Annex I, paras. 1–6; Annex II, paras. 4–11). [...] 8. The case of Mr. Nabeel Rajab, from the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, was included in the 2017 and 2018 reports of the Secretary-General (see A/HRC/36/31, para. 23 and Annex I, para. 6; and A/HCR/39/41, Annex II, para. 9). In August 2018, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found the detention of Mr. Rajab arbitrary, and referred the case to the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights. 111 On 31 December 2018, Bahrain’s Court of Cassation upheld Mr. Rajab’s conviction and sentence of five years’ imprisonment. On 6 May 2019, the court rejected a motion submitted by his lawyers asking for an alternative punishment to the jail sentence. He has now exhausted all legal avenues and will remain in prison until 2023. On 4 January 2019, the spokesperson of the High Commissioner for Human Rights called on the Government of Bahrain to immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Rajab and to stop criminalizing dissenting voices. 112 9. The Government in its reply of 19 June 2019 refers to the cases of Ms. Ali-Alsaegh, Ms. Hassan, and Mr. Rajab. In the case of Ms. Ali-Alsaegh, it provides detailed information and indicated that she was prevented from travelling due to charges against her for “unauthorized demonstration.” Regarding the situation of Ms. Mansoor Hassan, the Government indicated that she was arrested in March 2017 on the charge of having taken part in placing an object resembling an explosive in a public roadway for the purpose of terrorism. According to the Government, over the course of interrogation, some of Ms. Hassan’s fellow suspects confessed to having made an imitation explosive and planting it near a farm. On 30 October 2017, Ms. Hassan was sentenced to a three-year prison term. Concerning allegations of torture, the Government indicated that no complaint has been lodged by Ms. Hassan through any of the national remedies, nor has she complained about not receiving medical treatment. 10. Regarding the situation of Mr. Rajab, the Government indicated that the charges against him are unrelated to his human rights activities and have no bearing on the exercise of his right to freedom of opinion and expression; they are merely the application of the law which makes persons criminally responsible if they violate legislative norms.

The case of Mr. Nabeel Rajab, of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights and the Gulf Centre for Human Rights, was included in the 2017, 2018 and 2019 reports of the Secretary-General in relation to his cooperation with the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/36/31, para. 23 and Annex I, para. 6; A/HCR/39/41, Annex II, para. 9; A/HRC/42/30, Annex II para.8). Mr. Rajab was detained in 2016, and in August 2018 the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found his detention arbitrary and referred the case to the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights (A/HRC/WGAD/2018/13, paras. 40– 44). 6. On 1 November 2019, special procedures mandate holders expressed concern at the continued imprisonment and alleged deteriorating health of Mr. Rajab (BHR 3/2019). On 17 September 2019, the Manama High Court of Appeal rejected Mr. Rajab’s appeal to overturn previous court decisions and replace his prison sentences with a non-custodial measure. Mandate holders also addressed Mr. Rajab’s conditions of detention, including being kept in an overcrowded cell and isolated from other imprisoned human rights defenders (BHR 3/2019). On 31 December 2019, the Government 2 affirmed Mr. Rajab’s health is continually monitored and provided a log for medical visits from 19 October to 3 December 2019. On 9 June 2020, Mr. Rajab was released pursuant to Act No. 18 of 2017 on Penalties and Alternative Measures. He will serve a non-custodial sentence for the remaining three years and has been reportedly forbidden from making statements to the media.