The centre (or center in the United States) in ice hockey is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice, away from the side boards. Centres have more flexibility in their positioning and are expected to cover more ice surface than any other player. Centres are ideally stronger, faster skaters who can back check quickly from deep in the opposing zone. Generally, centres are expected to be gifted passers more so than goal scorers, although there are exceptions. They are also expected to have exceptional "ice vision", intelligence, and creativity. In addition they also generally are the most defensively oriented forward on the ice. Centres usually play as part of a line of players that are substituted frequently to keep fresh and the game moving. First liners are usually the top players, although some top players make the second line to allow for offensive scoring opportunities.

Offensive zone play

Centres are required to cover much of the ice in all three zones. Where the centre tends to play in the offensive zone is usually a matter of coaching and personal preference. Centres are responsible for keeping the flow of the game moving, and generally handle, and pass the puck more than any other position player. Because of this, most good centres tend to score assists rather than goals because the play goes through them as they try to find open teammates.

Because the range of offensive styles teams like to use, exactly how centres are used in the offensive zone is as varied as the players themselves. Generally the centre's role on offence is to move the offence through himself, setting up other players, and providing support for puck battles. They roam around most areas of the ice in the zone and have a lot of freedom in decision making. They are also expected to constantly be in motion causing defenders to have a hard time tracking them.

'''Zone Entry

The matter of bringing the puck in the zone generally is accomplished in two ways. The first involves the team's best puck carrier (usually the centre) using his speed and quickness to cross the blue line with the puck and set up the offence. The second is colloquially called a "dump in", in which an attacking player (almost always a defenceman or centre) shoots the puck from the neutral zone into either corner behind the opposing net in hopes that the onrushing wingers can beat the opposing defenders to it and gain control. The centre's role here is to provide support for the wingers if they become engaged in a puck battle, and give the battling winger an option to try to move the puck to, or to try to scoop up loose pucks as they become available. Once the puck is freed the offence can then set up as normal.

'''Behind the net

When a centre's winger is being attacked along the boards, the centre can take position behind the net to receive the pressured winger's pass. Behind the net is a natural place for some centres to play. It is a very difficult position to defend because it forces the opposing defencemen to leave the front of the net. It also gives the centre a clear view of the ice and most importantly the slot area. From here the centre has clear passing lanes and minimizes the distance and difficulty of passes to nearly any part of the slot.

'''In the slot

Many centres use their mobility and freedom to take advantage of the slot area, the area in between the faceoff dots, about 5 to 15 feet from the goal. The slot area is notorious goalscoring territory because of its proximity to the net and the difficulty the opposing team has in defending it. Centres like this area because of its openness. Possessing the puck here gives the centre many different options, as well as a central position in the offensive play. From here he can choose to shoot the puck on net, attempt to draw defenders away from the net by skating, or find open players closer to the goal cage.

Additionally, without the puck, the centre can choose to occupy this space looking for deflections of long shots or rebounds. Centres rarely set up directly in front of the net itself because in case of a turnover, it is much harder to get back in position defensively.

'''On the Halfboards

Some centres will play the halfboards. This position is especially important to a centre on some powerplay sets. Again it gives the centre a clear view of the ice surface and many different options. From here he may choose to pass back to a defenceman on the point, go down the boards to a winger behind the net, or drive the net itself hoping to draw defenders to him. The disadvantage of this position is that it is easily defended, and the centre generally does not have much time to survey the ice looking for an open teammate.

'''On the Powerplay

Powerplay sets are also quite varied, so the centre's role can range a lot. Many times though the centre will choose to operate in the slot area on the or on the halfboards. The halfboard position here is made easier to play because the centre has more time to look over the ice surface, and is not pressured by the defenders as much. Again the centre's role is to move the offence through himself looking for passing lanes to open players or roving the slot area looking for deflections and rebounds.

Neutral zone play

Attacking

The centre's role in the Neutral zone on the attacking side if he possesses the puck, is to bring the puck into the offensive zone by carrying or dumping the puck in. Although any player may carry the puck into the zone, centres are most often counted on because of their speed, quickness, and ability to stickhandle. If another player possesses the puck attacking into the zone, the centre's job is to provide support if the puck carrier needs to pass to another player across the blue line. Once the zone has been gained the offence may proceed to set up as they see fit.

On dump ins, the centre's role is to provide support to the wingers as they battle for possession in the corners, and hunt for loose pucks.

Defending

Many different strategies have been devised to defend the neutral zone. Often successfully defending the neutral zone leads to fewer opportunities for the opposing team to have offensive possessions.

Here the centre will mainly focus on skating and shadowing opposing puck carriers to try and force turnovers. They are responsible for the middle of the ice, and try to cut off long passing lanes to attacking players. If the defending team successfully does force a turnover, the centre is most often responsible for turning the direction of play around or receiving the first pass from a winger who has successfully forced a turnover.

'''The Neutral Zone Trap, Pentagon Trap, 1-2-2 Trap, or Zero-forecheck

When playing the trap, the centre typically spearheads the defence by placing himself in the middle of the ice between the red line and blue line in defensive position. This forces the puck carrier to either side board where the centre and puck side winger close him in, "trapping" him between the two defending players and the boards. Here the attacking player has very few options, and generally must retreat to a defenceman, whereupon the defending team can reset the trap. This tactic was pioneered by the New Jersey Devils in the late 1990s and has been used extensively in the NHL and all levels of hockey since.

'''The Left Wing Lock

When employing the left wing lock strategy, the centre's role is typically to shadow the puck carrier or provide token pressure in the opposing team's zone to force them to try to pass the puck up ice into the lock. This is a much older strategy and is less commonly employed at elite levels, however it was most recently used extensively by the 2006 Carolina Hurricanes on their way to their first Stanley Cup.

Defensive zone play

Unlike his offensive responsibilities, the centre's defensive responsibilities are relatively straightforward. Again the centrer must be able to use his skating ability to cover vast portions of the ice, and is responsible for the greatest percentage of ice in his own zone than of any position.

'''Defending the Slot Area

The centre's first and foremost responsibility is defending the slot area from opposing forwards. This is the most difficult area of the ice to defend because of its proximity to the net and its being situated in the middle of the ice. The centre is not only responsible for the opposing centre, but other forwards who venture into the slot as well. Centres like defencemen are often relied upon to block long distance shots while patrolling the slot. Because there are no boards in the slot area, it is difficult to play physically on opposing forwards so centres must be adept at using their sticks to defend via poke checks, sweep checks, stick lifts, and other stickwork.

'''Defending the Perimeter

The perimeter is an advantageous position for the defence, the boards act as an extra defender and the defending team often will try to enclose a puck carrier between the boards and two or more defenders to force turnovers. The centre's general responsibility is to provide support to other players that engage opposing puck carriers in puck battles on the boards by giving the primary defender (normally a defenceman in the defensive zone) an outlet to move the puck to if he is able to win the puck from the offensive player, though the centre does on occasion participate in these puck battles if they must.

'''Breaking Out of the Zone

When the puck is turned over by the defensive team, the defence must be able to exit the zone fluidly. A basic fundamental breakout the puck is controlled by the defence behind the net who then passes up the boards to a forward. The centre curls at the strong side faceoff dot and begins to break out alongside the puck carrying winger. The winger if undefended may skate the puck out himself, in which case the centre provides a passing option in the neutral zone, or if the winger is pressured can bunt the breakout pass to the centre moving up the ice. Here the centre can carry the puck out of the zone on his own, or look for the weak side winger coming across centre ice.

A quick break is sometimes used to take advantage of the opponent's sloppy transition game. In this set the defenceman directly passes to the centre curling at the faceoff dot. The centre can then carry the puck out himself or try to pass to the streaking weakside winger up the ice.

'''On the Penalty Kill

The penalty killing unit normally consists of two forwards and two defencemen. The centre's role does not differ appreciably from any other forward, though they are almost always included on the penalty killing unit for the purpose of taking the faceoff. Depending on what formation the penalty kill uses, the centre along with the other forward on the ice will play high side defence, trying to cut off passing lanes in the slot. Secondarily, they pressure offensive players on the boards if they do not have clear possession.

Back checking

The centre should always be prepared for a quick breakout pass by the opposing team. The centre is expected to play the deepest in the offensive zone but also the first of the forwards to backcheck. On the backcheck, the centre should take the first opposing player not covered (usually "the third man back").

Faceoffs

It is almost always the centre's job to handle faceoffs for his team. Centres employ many different tactics to win faceoffs that take advantage their strength or swiftness.

Faceoff techniques and preferences vary widely from player to player depending on that player's skill at taking faceoffs, speed, strength, and agility. Although faceoff techniques differ greatly, it is almost universal now that the centre reverses his lower hand and takes the faceoff on his backhand in order to gain more strength when pulling the puck.

Bigger, heavier, and stronger centres may prefer to use strength tactics such as tying up the opposing centre and winning the puck with his feet or overpowering the opponent by ripping the puck away using sheer strength. Smaller, quicker centres may employ swiftness tactics such as trying to contact the puck before his opponent has a chance to get his stick in the dot, or the slide technique where he allows his opponent access to the dot easily so he can slide his stick underneath and pull the puck back out.

Faceoffs are critical to a team's success on offence or defence. To this end, centres that may be deficient in other areas, especially offensively, can still have value to a team if they are excellent faceoff takers. Journeyman NHL centre Yanic Perreault was offensively limited for much of his career, yet was able to survive in the NHL due to his excellence in the faceoff circle. Perreault is considered one of the best faceoff men in history. Faceoffs are often used as a measure of defensive effectiveness, and good faceoff takers play many minutes on the penalty kill and in late game lead situations where quickly gaining possession of the puck is of vital importance.

See also

Defenceman

Winger

Forward

Rover (ice hockey)

Goaltender

Power forward

List of NHL players

References

Category:Ice hockey people Category:Ice hockey terminology Category:Ice hockey strategy

cs:Střední útočník (lední hokej) fr:Centre (hockey sur glace) ru:Центральный нападающий (хоккей с шайбой) simple:Centre (ice hockey) sl:Center (hokej na ledu) fi:Keskushyökkääjä uk:Центральний нападник (хокей із шайбою)

name	Kathryn Scott
birth date	September 29, 1974
origin	Portstewart, Northern Ireland
genre	Worship music Contemporary Christian
occupation	Singer, songwriter, worship leader
years active	1998–present
label	Integrity Music
website
background	solo_singer }}

Kathryn Sarah Scott (born 29 September 1974) is a Christian songwriter and worship leader from Northern Ireland. She has written songs such as "Hungry", "At the Foot of the Cross", and "Search Me" for the worshipping church. She released her first album, ''Satisfy'', in 2003, and has released her second album, ''I Belong'', in December 2007.

Brought up in Northern Ireland in a Christian environment, Kathryn discovered her talents for not only piano playing but also for singing. After getting married in 1996, Scott met and began to be mentored by Brian Doerksen, then leader of worship leaders of the Vineyard UK branch, and as a result, Kathryn's songs feature on many of the Vineyard albums, including ''Hungry'', ''Surrender'' and ''Come, Now is the Time''.

''Hungry'' was released in 1999 by Vineyard Music Group, containing 14 songs; 2 of which Kathryn penned. Kathryn sings on 7 of the 14 songs, 2 of the 7 alongside another one of the other four worship leaders on the album. ''Satisfy'' was released in 2003 by Vertical Records, containing 12 songs; 7 of which Kathryn penned.

Kathryn and her husband Alan serve as pastors of Causeway Coast Vineyard, a church that they planted in 1999 in Northern Ireland, and have two daughters together.

Discography

Vineyard music albums

''Come Now Is The Time'' (1998)

''Hungry'' (1999)

''Surrender'' (2000)

''I love Your presence'' (2001)

''You and You alone'' (2002)

''Lord reign in me'' (2003)

Solo Albums

''Satisfy'' (2003)

''I belong'' (2007)

''Live Worship At FocusFest'' (2009)

''We Still Believe'' August (2010)

References

External links

Official Website

Kathryn's blog

Artist's Label Page

Category:Living people Category:Irish Christians Category:British performers of Christian music Category:Christian religion-related songwriters Category:Contemporary worship music Category:Vineyard Churches

birth name	Nabeel Ahmed Rajab
birth date	January 01, 1964
birth place	Bahrain
occupation	Human rights defender
years active	1996–present
children	Adam and Malak
residence	Bani Jamra, Kingdom of Bahrain
education	Bachelor's degree in Political Science and History from the University of Pune
religion	Islam
website	http://www.bahrainrights.org/ }}

Nabeel Ahmed Rajab (Arabic: نبيل أحمد رجب) is a Bahraini human rights defender and President of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), a nonprofit non-governmental organisation which works to promote human rights in Bahrain. He is also a member of the Advisory Committee of Human Rights Watch's Middle East Division, Deputy Secretary General for the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and Chairman of CARAM Asia. As a result of his human rights activities he has been threatened and harassed by the Bahraini authorities.

Biography

Nabeel Rajab was born on 1 January 1964. He is married and has 2 children. He finished his secondary school education in 1983 in Bahrain, specialising in science. He received his Bachelor's degree in Political Science and History in 1987 from the University of Pune (formerly University of Poona) in India.

Human rights activism

Early years

In an interview with Bahrain Mirror, Nabeel Rajab spoke about his earliest human rights activities while still a student at Al Hoora secondary school and described two particularly significant formative experiences:

Rajab traveled to India to study Political Science and History. He received his Bachelor's degree but financial problems after his father became ill prevented him obtaining a Master's degree. He returned to Bahrain to find employment. During his college years, he was not affiliated to any political groups. He was active within the general Bahraini students union, without any clear understanding of a culture of human rights or knowledge of human rights standards, but standing up against all forms of injustice, on a somewhat haphazard way. He became involved in international campaigning on specific issues.

Organized work

It was during the 1990s uprising in Bahrain that Nabeel Rajab became involved in organized human rights activities. He tried to make contact with human rights organizations in other countries. Because of the risks associated with human rights activism at that time, these activities had to remain clandestine. In 1996 Rajab discussed the idea of setting up a human rights organization with Ali Rabea'a and Ibrahim Kamal Al Den. They introduced him to Salman Kamal Al Den, Sabeeka Al Najjar, Mohammed Al Motawa and other colleagues with whom they held secret meetings. Together they founded the Bahrain Human Rights Society in 1999.

Foundation of Human Rights committees

With the ending of the oppressive State Security Law period in 1999, Nabeel Rajab was able to begin working openly in the field of Human rights as one of the founders of the Bahrain Human Rights Society, one of the first human rights organization in Bahrain.

He subsequently fell out with some of the other founders and in 2002, following wide ranging political reforms by the Bahraini government which allowed independent Human rights groups to operate, with Abdulhadi Alkhawaja and others Nabeel Rajab was one of the founders of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR). Rajab was Training Program Officer and Senior Researcher at BCHR between September 2002 and September 2003, when he became Vice President and Head of International Relations until 2005. In 2007 he took over from Abdulhadi Alkhawaja as President of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, a position he still holds (May 2011).

Nabeel was one of the founders of a number of human rights committees in Bahrain with a specific focus, including the National Committee of Victims of Torture-Bahrain (2003), the Committee of the Unemployed and Underpaid (2005), the Committee on Decent Housing (2005), the Committee of the Bedoun (Stateless) (2005) and the Committee to Defend Detained Human Rights Activists (2007).

Migrant workers rights

Nabeel Rajab was one of the founders of the first migrant workers protection committee in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the Migrant Workers Protection Group (in 2003).

On 28 April 2007, the Bahraini Parliament passed a law banning unmarried migrant workers from living in residential areas. BCHR issued a press release condemning this decision as discriminatory and promoting negative racist attitudes towards migrant workers. Nabeel Rajab, then BCHR vice president, said:

In October 2009 Nabeel was elected Chairperson of CARAM Asia for 2 years. CARAM is a regional non-governmental organization, based in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, that works to defend the rights of migrant workers, reduce the risks to which their communities are vulnerable, including HIV, and promote their health rights.

On 24 February 2010, Nabeel Rajab addressed the "World Congress against the Death Penalty" conference in Geneva on the subject of "Migrant Workers and the Death Penalty in Bahrain & Saudi Arabia". He drew attention to the exceptional vulnerability of migrant workers in countries with systemic abuses and rights violations.

Work with other international Human Rights organizations

Since December 2009, Nabeel has been a member of the Board of Advisors of the Middle East and North African division of Human Rights Watch.

In July 2010 the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) appointed Rajab to the position of Deputy Secretary General and FIDH permanent representative in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. In March 2011 Nabeel Rajab was elected Deputy Chairperson of the Arab media monitoring group for a 2 year period.

Human rights activities

As a human rights defender Nabeel Rajab has worked to promote a culture of human rights and defend civil and political rights and liberties both inside and outside Bahrain. While promoting the rights of all, his work has focused in particular on fighting discrimination and protecting migrant workers.

In Bahrain, Nabeel Rajab supports the victims of Human rights violations for example by accompanying them at peaceful sit-ins and helping them obtain legal support.

As President of Bahrain Center for Human Rights, he is involved in monitoring and reporting human rights violations in Bahrain and the wider region. Bahrain Center for Human Rights, whose website is blocked in Bahrain, is the principal human rights body documenting human rights violation in Bahrain and reporting them to international human rights organizations and UN mechanisms for human rights.

At forums and seminars on human rights he has drawn attention to the situation concerning Human rights in Bahrain and the region and called on the international community to take action. He has also participated in multiple fact-finding missions organized by international non-governmental organizations, including FIDH missions investigating Torture, Enforced Disappearances, Arbitrary Arrests, Detentions and Fair Trial Guarantees in Yemen (August 2009) and Terrorism and Human Rights in the Philippines Fighting Terror or Terrorizing?.

2011 Ion Ratiu Democracy Award

On 28 July, it was announced that Nabeel Rajab will receive the 2011 Ion Ratiu Democracy Award, presented annually by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Because he "has worked tirelessly and at considerable personal peril to advance the cause of democratic freedoms and the civil rights of Bahraini citizens".

The purpose of the Ion Ratiu Democracy Award is to bring visibility and international recognition to the ideas and accomplishments of individuals around the world who are working on behalf of democracy.

The award strives to enrich the intellectual environment in which ideas about democracy and democratic change circulate, both within and beyond Washington. Sponsored in cooperation With the Ratiu Family Charitable Foundation (London, UK) and the Ratiu Center for Democracy (Turda, Romania), the award expresses the deep commitment to democracy ofthe late Ion Ratiu through his contributions as a Romanian politician and.intellectual as well as his interest in democratic change worldwide.

Threats and harassment

Since 2005, Nabeel Rajab has been the subject of ongoing harassment including physical attacks and smear campaigns in the media (official TV, radio channels, Bahrain news agency and newspapers close to government). In a postal campaign targeting Rajab and his wife thousands of letters were distributed accusing him and his wife of being traitors and including his photo. Thousands of telephone text messages were sent to people in Bahrain via a company in South Africa that was paid through the private account of Sheikh Ahmed bin Ateyatalla Al-Khalifa, former Minister of state. The complaints filed by Rajab and his wife filed with the Office of the Public Prosecutor were ignored and never investigated.

On 15 July 2005, Nabeel was beaten by Special Forces whilst attending a peaceful demonstration in solidarity with the Committee for the Unemployed. He suffered a spinal injury, a broken finger, a fractured arm and a head injury and was hospitalised for two weeks as a result (see pictures). He continues to suffer the consequences of the spinal injury.

In March 2007, Nabeel was interrogated by the Office of the Public Prosecutor in relation to an article published by BCHR about the 'Bandargate Scandal', a government plan to marginalize the majority Shia community in Bahrain.

In 2007 the organisation Front Line (International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders) which campaigns to protect human rights defenders at risk who work, non-violently, for the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, expressed deep concern that ongoing intimidation and harassment was intended to discourage Nabeel Rajab from carrying out legitimate peaceful activities in defence of human rights in Bahrain, citing in particular the rights of freedom of expression and opinion, freedom of assembly and freedom of association.

In August 2009, Nabeel Rajab was arrested for a few hours after attending a peaceful sit-in in front of the Saudi Arabian embassy in solidarity with Al-Murbati family one of whose family members has been imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for 7 years without trial.

In September 2010 Nabeel Rajab's photograph was published a number of times by the government-owned Alwatan Newspaper which accused him of supporting an alleged terrorism network and being "active in publishing false reports and information". On September 4, 2010, the Bahrain National News Agency (BNA) published a statement coming from the national security services which referred to Rajab as having been officially accused of involvement in the alleged terrorist network and posted his picture at the agency website. The following day the agency removed Mr. Rajab’s name and photo from the statement.

During this time, the authorities imposed a ban preventing Nabeel Rajab from engaging in any new business in Bahrain that made it difficult for him to earn a living. The ban was subsequently lifted without any justification having been given for it.

When the security crackdown in mid August 2010 started many human rights defenders were arrested. An order for Nabeel Rajab's arrest was issued on 8 September 2010 but was cancelled on 18 October 2010. Nabeel was the subject of a travel ban between September 2010 to October 2010.

On 2 December 2010, Nabeel Rajab was detained by national security police for an hour at Manama airport as he was about to fly to Greece. He was subjected to selective security measures, threatened and his personal laptop and mobile phone were confiscated (along with the other electronic devices in his possession). All the files and other information on these devices were copied, including family pictures and files related to Rajab's human rights work.

Rajab's phone and electronic communication are closely monitored, as the questioning of current detainees about their relationship and work with Rajab has revealed.

In December 2010 Human Rights Watch commented that although Bahrain's leaders repeatedly insisted that the Bahraini government respected human rights, its harassment of Nabeel Rajab told another story.

An anonymous defamatory campaign against Nabeel Rajab and Maryam Alkhawaja was launched in early May 2011, with the active and passive support of the Bahraini authorities.

Involvement in the 2011 Bahraini uprising

On 20 March 2011, after Nabeel Rajab condemned the Bahrain government's use of force against peaceful protesters in the 2011 Bahraini uprising and the Bahrain Center for Human Rights accused Bahraini forces and their Saudi and Emirati allies of "massacres" after four protesters were killed, Rajab was briefly detained by 20 to 25 masked men, some armed with rifles along with dozens of uniformed Bahraini security forces at 1:30am who broke in and searched his house, confiscated his files and a computer. They allegedly blindfolded and handcuffed him then put him into the back of a vehicle before verbally abusing, beating and threatening to rape him. He was reported saying: Rajab was subsequently released after questioning -about a man being sought whom Rajab did not know- in a detention facility run by the Ministry of Interior in Adliya, a suburb of the capital, Manama.

On April 10, officials publicly accused Rajab of fabricating photos posted on his twitter account of the body of Ali Isa Ibrahim Saqer, who died in detention on April 9. The photos showed slash marks all over his back and other signs of physical abuse. A Human Rights Watch researcher saw Saqer's body just prior to his burial and said the photos were accurate. According to PBS news hour on 17 May 2011, "Five prison guards are being charged with Saqer's death. That's according to Bahrain's Minister of Justice Sheikh Khalid bin Ali bin Abdulla al Khalifa, one of the royal family".

In the early hours of April 18, 2011 unknown assailants lobbed teargas grenades into the home of Nabeel Rajab in the village of Bani Jamra. Tear gas penetrated into the adjacent home of Rajab's 78-year-old mother who suffers from respiratory disease, causing her great distress. To Human Rights Watch's knowledge, only Bahrain's security forces have access to the types of grenades thrown into the Rajab family's compound.

For the second time since the start of 2011 Bahraini uprising Nabeel Rajab's house was attacked by unknown assailants in the early hours of 21 May. Four gas grenades were fired at the house at 3:30 am Saturday in the village of Bani Jamra, Bahrain, and two broke through the windows in quarters occupied by his brother, Nader, and his family. A third went off in the compound. After an attack in mid-April, Human Rights Watch noted that the grenades were manufactured in the United States and were of a type to which only the Bahrain Defense Authorities had access. Now it appears the Bahraini government has found a new supplier. Rajab said:

On 23 May, Nabeel Rajab claimed that his uncle, Moh'd Hassan Moh'd Jawad (65 years), an arrested activist is currently being tortured due to his relation to Nabeel Rajab.

On 29 May, Nabeel Rajab was prevented from traveling to Beirut to attend an IFEX meeting by airport security forces. In reaction, Nabeel Rajab protested briefly outside airport.

On 31 May, just shortly after Hamad Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain asked for dialogue without preconditions to begin early July of this year, the military court (of Bahrain Defence Force) issued an order for Nabeel Rajab along with Ali Salman head of Al Wefaq, Bahrain's biggest political party and 3 of Al Wefaq's resigned MPs: head of the block Abdul-Jalil Khalil, former vice president of lower parliament room Khalil Al-Marzooq and former vice president of legalization committee Mohammed Al-Mizaal. The order accused Nabeel Rajab for spreading false news and statements about the situation in Bahrain and promoting to hate and disrespect a specific sect. (see picture). He was also accused to humiliating king of Bahrain. All of them were released in the same day.

On 11 June, Nabeel Rajab attended 'Homeland for all' gathering in Saar which was organized by Al-Wefaq party.

On 18 June, Bahraini authorities prevented Nabeel Rajab from traveling to a conference in Cairo which he was invited to by Amnesty International.

On 19 August Nabeel was called by an anonymous claiming that he had to go to police station in Hamad Town for investigation about his Twitter activity. Nabeel refused to go unless an official order was given. Later in the same day an official order was provided. (Picture). The reason for the investigation was an article published by BCHR website which was titled "Some members of the Bahraini royal family beating & torturing political prisoners", but the investigation included his Twitter activity.

Although expecting arrest at any minute, during the recent crackdown Rajab has continued his work of documenting and reporting human right violations, securing international support and helping provide the families of detainees with moral support. He has been adept in using the new social media technology to raise awareness and distribute the latest information about the situation in Bahrain.

The Bahraini "National Dialogue"

On 31 May, the king of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, called for a national dialogue to resolve ongoing tensions. However the seriousness and effectiveness of the dialogue has been disputed by many opposition figures - it has even been referred to disparagingly as a "chitchat room".

Nabeel Rajab's view

Nabeel Rajab has welcomed the principle of dialogue as offering the only way out of the current political crisis, but has criticized the current dialogue and considers it wrong to participate in a fake dialogue that provokes sectarian tensions instead of resolving the current conflict. He said:

Right of Self-Determination

Nabeel Rajab supported the protesters demands when they called for Right of Self-Determination. He supported and participated in both gatherings of 'Right of Self Determination' in late June and early July.

Visits to Martyrs families

Nabeel Rajab started a campaign with some human rights and political activist to visit martyrs families to support them. On 25 June Nabeel Rajab along with human rights activist Mohammed Al-Maskati, head of BYSHR, Al-Wefaq former MP Sayed Hadi Al-Mosawi and others visited the families of martyrs Ali Mansoor Khudhair and Ahmed Farhan. On 28 June Nabeel Rajab and Al-Wefaq former MP Sayed Hadi Al-Mosawi Visited the family of martyr Ali Al-Mo'men. After the visit Nabeel Rajab said: On 3 July Nabeel Rajab visited the families of martyrs Fadhel Al-Matrook, Jaafar Mayouf and Abdulrasool Al-Hijiari.

On 6 July Nabeel Rajab along with Al-Wefaq former MP Sayed Hadi Al-Mosawi and some human rights defenders visited the families of martyrs Ali Mushaima and Bahia Al-Aradi.

Irish fact finding delegation

Since March, 47 Bahraini doctors, nurses, and paramedics have been charged and detained for supporting protesters during this year's pro-reform demonstrations that have swept across Bahrain. Another, a doctor, left the country without having been detained.

In April, international doctors' organizations Médecins Sans Frontières and Physicians for Human Rights reported medical staff and patients were systematically detained from Bahraini hospitals by assailants allegedly acting on government orders. UK medics have stated that Bahrain is violating the Geneva Convention.

A group of Irish doctors, politicians and human rights representatives traveled to Bahrain to highlight the plight of medics facing trial after they were arrested during pro-democracy protests in the Gulf monarchy earlier this year.

The Bahraini authorities have indicated they are not keen on the visit by the group, which is being led by orthopaedic surgeon Damian McCormack. Officials at the Bahraini embassy in London yesterday reiterated that they would prefer if the visit took place in October, when reconciliation talks, which began earlier this month, will have concluded.

The group, which includes Independent MEP Marian Harkin, Fianna Fáil senator Averil Power and former minister for foreign affairs David Andrews, last week received a letter of support from Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore.

The delegation have visited Nabeel Rajab in his house on 15 July.

Criticism to United States

On 26 July Al Jazeera English published an interview with Nabeel Rajab in which he criticized the US role in Bahrain. "The silence of United States has disappointed people very much" He said "It is very clear now that the United States democracy and human rights are only applied in countries which they have problems with, not with dictatorships that they have good relations with" He added.

Online Activity

Nabeel has been active in promoting the culture of human rights through the online media, especially Facebook and Twitter, where he posts educational messages on human rights in addition to updates about human rights violations. He uses Facebook and Twitter to empower people around the Gulf region by demonstrating how social media can be used to enhance the region's human rights culture.

In the 2011 Forbes list of the top 100 Arabs on Twitter, Nabeel Rajab was ranked number 43 with 36040 followers (currently 41301 - July 2011). He was ranked number 2 in Bahrain behind foreign minister Khalid Al-Khalifa who congratulated him after the results were posted.

First Arab Twitter prosecution

In April 2011 the Bahraini Interior Ministry announced that Rajab would be prosecuted by a military court for the offence of publishing an image on his personal Twitter account of the Bahraini Ali Issa Saqr, who had died in Bahrain prison. The Ministry accused Rajab of fabricating the pictures showing signs of torture on Sakr's body. Rajab denied fabricating the photograph and held the Bahraini security services responsible for Sakr's death. Bahraini activists maintained that the photographs show that Saqr he was tortured and killed while in police custody.

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information noted that Rajab's would be the first trial for tweeting (publishing information on Twitter) anywhere in the Arab world and an illustration of the Bahraini government's "implacable hostility ... against the freedom of expression and Internet freedom". ANHRI accused the Bahraini government of not being prepared to overlook any means of expression of opinion as it restricted citizens's ability to engage in the peaceful expression of their views.

Additional Images

See also

Bahrain Center for Human Rights

Abdulhadi Alkhawaja

2011 Bahraini uprising

1990s Uprising in Bahrain

Human Rights Watch

International Federation for Human Rights

Bahrain Human Rights Society

Civil and political rights

External links

Bahrain Center for Human Rights website

FIDH - International Federation for Human Rights website

CARAM - Coordination of Action Research on Aids and Mobility website

Nabeel Rajab Facebook page

Nabeel Rajab Twitter page

List of videos for Nabeel Rajab

References

Category:Living people Category:Bahraini activists Category:Human rights in Bahrain Category:Politics of Bahrain Category:Human rights activists Category:1964 births Category:Bahrani people Category:People of the 2011 Bahraini protests

ar:نبيل رجب