Warning: Your tweet could land you in jail

 I got this from Amnesty International:

http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=6oJCLQPAJiJUG&b=6645049&aid=518659&msource=W1207EAIAR2

Dear Tracy,

Bahrain's government has sunk to a new human rights low. It has jailed a man for tweeting.

First it was excessive force -- tear gas, widespread torture, unlawful killings -- against demonstrators during anti-government protests. Then Bahraini authorities charged an 11-year-old boy with "illegal gathering" after he was found in the street near a protest.

Now, political and human rights activist Nabeel Rajab is in jail after exercising his human right to free speech on Twitter. Tomorrow he has an appeal hearing -- so we need to act today.

If you agree that a simple tweet shouldn't land anyone in prison, let the Bahraini authorities know. Demand that Bahrain immediately free Nabeel Rajab and drop all of the outrageous charges against him.

Nabeel, head of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, was sentenced to three months in jail on charges of libel. He also faces other charges stemming from his participation in anti-government protests, and is appealing a conviction of "insulting a national institution" (the Ministry of Interior) in other tweets.

What does Bahrain's government have to fear from free speech, even when it's a tweet in 140 characters or less?

Authoritarian regimes are terrified of the Internet. The use of online and mobile technologies is growing exponentially, is hard to control and has the potential to shift power to the people.

It's a fear that goes beyond Bahrain -- bloggers and Facebook and Twitter users in countries like Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, China and Iran have faced prison time for openly expressing their views on the Internet. And just this week, a political blogger in the United Arab Emirates was forcefully deported in the name of "state security."

Speech is meant to be free. Activists must be allowed to freely and peacefully express dissent on the Internet, at a protest, anywhere.

It's time to send a message to governments like Bahrain's -- stop harassing human rights defenders, online or offline. Free Nabeel Rajab!

Thank You,

Sanjeev Bery
Advocacy Director, Middle East & North Africa
Amnesty International USA