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Bahrain Questions Activist in Ongoing Crackdown


Mourners chant anti-government slogans as they carry the body of Ali Isa Saqer, 31, to be washed for burial in his village of Sehla, Bahrain, April 10, 2011, after he died in police custody in the past week
Mourners chant anti-government slogans as they carry the body of Ali Isa Saqer, 31, to be washed for burial in his village of Sehla, Bahrain, April 10, 2011, after he died in police custody in the past week

Bahrain has accused a leading human rights activist of fabricating photos and has summoned him for questioning in an ongoing crackdown against anti-government protesters.

The state-run Bahrain News Agency says Nabeel Rajab is accused of tampering with images of a man who died in custody last week. The activist claims the man died from the effects of torture and posted a photo online that shows his body covered with cuts and bruises.

We spoke to Nabeel Rajab last week. Listen to Cecily Hilleary’s interview with him:

Authorities claim the detained protester died after struggling with guards. BNA says a military prosecutor will question Rajab about the photo.

Rajab is the head of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights.

Also Monday, Bahrain is questioning the former editor-in-chief of Al Wasat newspaper for what the government calls the paper's "unethical" coverage of the protests.

The editor, Mansoor al-Jamri, has called the move an attempt to "silence independent news" in Bahrain.

Opposition protesters in Bahrain have been demanding the resignation of Bahrain's Sunni-led government and calling for creation of a political system that gives a greater voice to the country's majority Shi'ites.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.

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