Bahrain: Rights Activist Detained

Sources close to the head of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights say he was detained and questioned by security forces Sunday.

The Associated Press  news agency quotes Nabeel Rajab’s wife as saying he was taken away by masked security officials early in the morning and released several hours later. She said agents also confiscated computers, CDs and mobile phones.

Other reports quote one of Rajab’s colleagues and Rajab himself as saying he was detained.

The human rights activist and his center have spoken out about Bahraini authorities’ crackdown on anti-government protesters.

At least five people were killed Wednesday when security forces swept through Pearl Square in the capital, Manama. The square has been a rallying point for the thousands of mostly Shi’ite demonstrators who are demanding reforms from the minority Sunni government.

The government declared a three-month state of emergency this week to try to end the protests. Authorities also arrested at least six opposition leaders on charges that include communicating with foreign countries.