Three years for Bahrain activist

A prominent Bahraini human rights activist has been convicted of instigating and participating in several anti-government rallies and sentenced to three years in jail.

The unexpectedly harsh sentence against Nabeel Rajab is likely to raise questions about the Western-backed Sunni monarchy’s commitment to reform, and embolden anti-government protesters who have been demonstrating for the past 18 months, calling for greater rights in the Gulf island kingdom that is home to the US Navy’s 5th fleet.