WASHINGTON, Sept 6 (Reuters) - The United States voiced concern on Tuesday about the detention of leading Bahraini democracy campaigner Nabeel Rajab and called on the Manama government to release him immediately.

The call by the U.S. State Department came just two days after The New York Times published a letter by Rajab that said he was facing prosecution for his work exposing human rights abuses in Bahrain and criticizing the war in Yemen.

Prosecutors in Bahrain filed new charges on Monday against an unidentified man, believed by rights activists to be Rajab, for "publishing a column in a foreign newspaper in which he deliberately broadcast news, statements and false rumors that undermine the kingdom's prestige and stature."

Asked about the new charges, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the United States was "very concerned" about Rajab's "ongoing detention and the new charges filed against him."

"We call on the government of Bahrain to release him immediately," Toner said. "We have concerns about the state of human rights in general in Bahrain and we're engaging with the government ... on all these issues."

Rajab said in his letter to the Times that he had been detained, mostly in isolation, in Bahrain since the beginning of the summer. He said Bahrain had some 4,000 political prisoners and the highest prison population per capita in the Middle East.

"This is a country that has subjected its people to imprisonment, torture and even death for daring to desire democracy," Rajab wrote. He said he also was accused of "insulting a neighboring country," Saudi Arabia, by sending notes on Twitter calling for an end to the war in Yemen.

Rajab, who met with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry earlier this year, was critical of the United States for selling billions of dollars worth of arms to Saudi Arabia for the Yemen conflict.

Rajab said recent strong U.S. statements on Bahrain's human rights problems were good "but unless the United States is willing to use its leverage, fine words have little effect." He urged U.S. President Barack Obama to use American influence to resolve the Yemen conflict.

Opposition political groups in Bahrain staged large protests during the Arab Spring of 2011, when demonstrators across the Arab world took to the streets calling for greater democracy. The protests in Bahrain were put down when neighboring Saudi Arabia sent troops to restore order.

Political tensions have continued since then in Bahrain, which is home to the U.S. Fifth Fleet. (Reporting by David Alexander and Arshad Mohammed) </s> Image copyright AP Image caption Nabeel Rajab says he has been detained since the beginning of the summer

The US State Department has urged Bahrain to immediately release the prominent human rights activist Nabeel Rajab.

A spokesman said the US was "very concerned" about Mr Rajab's detention and charges filed against him.

Mr Rajab is reported to be facing fresh charges for writing a letter to the New York Times.

He has served several prison sentences since setting up the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights in 2002.

In his letter published in the New York Times on Sunday, Mr Rajab said he had been detained, mostly in isolation, in Bahrain since the beginning of the summer.

He said Bahrain had some 4,000 political prisoners and the highest prison population per capita in the Middle East.

"This is a country that has subjected its people to imprisonment, torture and even death for daring to desire democracy," he wrote.

Following the article, Bahraini prosecutors filed new charges against an unnamed man, who rights activists say is Mr Rajab, for "publishing a column in a foreign newspaper in which he deliberately broadcast news, statements and false rumours that undermine the kingdom's prestige and stature".

US State Department Mark Toner said in Washington: "We call on the government of Bahrain to release him [Mr Rajab] immediately.

"We have concerns about the state of human rights in general in Bahrain and we're engaging with the government... on all these issues."

Image copyright AFP Image caption Anti-government protests in Bahrain often feature images of Nabeel Rajab

Bahrain is home to the US Navy Fifth Fleet.

Mr Rajab has been a fierce critic of the Bahraini authorities and helped to lead anti-government protests which erupted in March 2011.

Demonstrators took to the streets, demanding more democracy and an end to discrimination against the majority Shia Muslim community by the Sunni Muslim royal family.

The protests were quelled by security forces after the authorities brought in troops from neighbouring Sunni-led Gulf states to restore order. </s> A Bahrain appeals court sentenced the leader of the now-shuttered Shiite opposition to life in prison on Sunday for spying for regional rival Qatar.

Sheikh Ali Salman, the head of the dissolved Al-Wefaq movement, had been acquitted by Bahrain's High Criminal Court in June alongside two prominent aides, Sheikh Hassan Ali Juma Sultan and Ali Mahdi Ali al-Aswad, who were tried in absentia.

The court on Sunday overruled the previous acquittal and sentenced all three to life in prison for transferring confidential information and receiving financial support from Qatar.

Human rights group Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) condemned the appeals court decision.

"This is a political persecution and it can't happen without authorization by the highest authority" of the ruling Al Khalifa family, said BIRD's director of advocacy, Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei.

Responding to the verdict, Amnesty International said it demonstrated Bahrain's "relentless and unlawful efforts to silence any form of dissent."

"Sheikh Ali Salman is a prisoner of conscience who is being held solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression," Middle East and North Africa Director Heba Morayef said.

Sheikh Ali Salman, who is already serving a four year prison sentence for insulting the Interior Ministry and inciting hatred, was charged in November 2017 with conspiring with Qatar to carry out "hostile acts" against Bahrain.

The charges relate to an alleged recording of a telephone conversation Sheikh Salman had in 2011 with Qatar's former prime minister and foreign minister, which was broadcast on Bahraini television in August 2017.

The audio recording was released just two months after Bahrain, alongside Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, cut off relations with Qatar over its ties with Shiite Iran and the Sunni Muslim Brotherhood, both of which the Gulf monarchies view as a threat.

Bahrain, where a Sunni minority rules over a Shiite majority, has been rocked by unrest since authorities backed by reinforcements from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates carried out a bloody crackdown on Arab Spring protests in 2011.

Sheikh Salman was a prominent figure in the protests demanding greater freedoms and a constitutional monarchy.

The Al-Wefaq movement was dissolved by court order in 2016. Other parties including the main secular opposition, the National Democratic Action Society (Waad), have also been outlawed.

Waad's leader Nabeel Rajab is currently in jail for criticizing the government in a case condemned by the UN and human rights groups as a case of political persecution.

Bahrain accuses Iran of fomenting Shiite armed opposition amid a spate of attacks on security forces and infrastructure.

Bahrain is strategically located in the Persian Gulf, and is home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet and a British naval base. </s> (CNN) -- Bahrain has executed three men convicted of killing three police officers in a 2014 bombing. The move sparked protests in the island nation and could further raise tensions between the country's Shiite majority and its Sunni rulers.

The men were killed by a firing squad Sunday morning in the presence of a judge, physician and a Muslim cleric, State news agency BNA reported, quoting the head of the Terrorist Crimes Prosecution, Ahmed El-Hamady.

The executions came less than a week after Bahrain's highest court upheld their death sentences over a bomb attack in March 2014, the agency said. The executed men belonged to a militant Shia group, the state news agency said. Seven other defendants received life terms.

"Sami Mushaima, Ali Al-Singace and Abbas Al-Samea were convicted of manufacturing and planting improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that were detonated remotely after luring first responders into the fatal ambush," said a statement released Sunday by Bahrain's London Embassy.

"Those convicted were members of the listed terrorist group Saraya al-Ashtar, whose members have been convicted of attempting to smuggle weapons and explosives into the kingdom to carry out similar violent attacks."

The two Bahraini police officers and one Emirati officer were killed in the attack during clashes with protesters. The Emirati policeman was part of an Arab Gulf Council force deployed to help Bahraini authorities quell a protest movement.

Demonstrations first broke out in Bahrain in 2011, during the region's wave of protests called the "Arab Spring." Bahrain's capital, Manama, saw huge -- largely nonsectarian -- street protests five years ago, with weekslong protests taking over the city's then-iconic Pearl Monument, which was subsequently torn down by the government.

Activists took to the streets Sunday to protest the death sentence.

The international rights group Amnesty International said the men were convicted in an "unfair trial."

"This is a dark day for human rights in Bahrain," wrote Samah Hadid, Amnesty International deputy director for campaigns in Beirut. "These executions, the first to be carried out since 2010, are a deeply regressive step for a country whose authorities' have repeatedly trumpeted their commitment to human rights."

Maya Foa, a director of international human rights group Reprieve, said in a statement posted on its website: "It is nothing short of an outrage -- and a disgraceful breach of international law -- that Bahrain has gone ahead with these executions. The death sentences handed to Ali, Sami and Abbas were based on 'confessions' extracted through torture, and the trial an utter sham."

Reprieve said the executions went ahead despite serious concerns that the convictions were based on evidence obtained under torture.

The three men are the first people executed in Bahrain since 2010, and the first Bahrainis executed since 1996, according to Repreive.

Iran, an overwhelmingly Shiite nation and sharp critic of Bahrain's government, also strongly condemned the execution.

Sarah Sirgany reported the story from Abu Dhabi. Chandrika Narayan reported and wrote the story from Atlanta. Yousif Basil contributed to the story. </s> Image copyright AFP Image caption Sheikh Ali Salman, pictured in 2014, has been in prison since 2015

Bahrain's opposition leader, Sheikh Ali Salman, has been handed a life sentence after the Court of Appeal found him guilty of spying for Qatar.

The ruling comes just months after the Bahraini High Court of First Tier acquitted Salman of the charge of "colluding" with the rival state.

Bahrain cut ties with Qatar in 2017.

Human rights group Amnesty has described the decision as a "travesty of justice" amid Bahrain's "continued crackdown on dissent".

"This verdict... demonstrates the Bahraini authorities' relentless and unlawful efforts to silence any form of dissent," Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa director Heba Morayef said.

"Sheikh Ali Salman is a prisoner of conscience who is being held solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression."

Ali Salman, who led the now outlawed Al-Wefaq movement, was accused of plotting with Qatar to stoke anti-government unrest in 2011, along with fellow opposition leaders Hassan Sultan and Ali al-Aswad.

They have also received life sentences.

Why now?

Bahrain's public prosecutor said the three men were jailed for "acts of hostility" against Bahrain and "communicating with Qatari officials... to overthrow constitutional order", according to news agency AFP.

But the accusations, which date back seven years, only came to light last year - after Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt cut links with Qatar.

The allies accused the emirate of supporting terrorist groups and of being too close to Iran - allegations the emirate has vigorously denied.

At the time, Wefaq said the allegations were an attempt by the Bahraini government to smear it and prolong the imprisonment of its leader, who has been in custody since 2015.

What happened in 2011?

Demonstrators - mainly led by the majority Shia community - took to the streets in February 2011, demanding more democracy as part of pro-democracy uprisings across the Arab world.

But the royal Al Khalifa family, who hold most of the political and military posts, managed to suppress the protests with the help of neighbouring countries, most importantly Saudi Arabia.

The unrest left at least 30 civilians and five policemen dead.

Ever since, the Sunni-ruled Bahrain has been wracked by unrest. In response, Bahrain - a key ally of the United States and the UK, which both have naval bases in the country - has outlawed opposition groups, while hundreds of government critics have been jailed.

Strategically important

By Yolande Knell, BBC News

Most people in the tiny Gulf country are Shia Muslims but it is ruled by a Sunni Muslim royal family that controls top government posts.

As leader of the main Shiite opposition party, Sheikh Ali Salman was among those calling for democratic reforms including a constitutional monarchy and elected prime minister.

Al-Wefaq had the biggest bloc in parliament before the 2011 protests but its members resigned when those were suppressed. Later the party was banned - along with other religious and secular opposition groups.

Dozens of clerics and activists have been jailed. Before this verdict, Sheikh Ali Salman was already imprisoned on charges of inciting hatred.

Human rights groups accuse the international community of failing to speak out about abuses in Bahrain because of its strategically important location and value as a defence and security hub. </s> Bahrain’s opposition leader, Sheikh Ali Salman, has been handed a life sentence after the Court of Appeal found him guilty of spying for Qatar.

The ruling comes just months after the Bahraini High Court of First Tier acquitted Salman of the charge of “colluding” with the rival state.

Human rights group Amnesty has described the decision as a “travesty of justice” amid Bahrain’s “continued crackdown on dissent”.

“This verdict… demonstrates the Bahraini authorities’ relentless and unlawful efforts to silence any form of dissent,” Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa director Heba Morayef said.

“Sheikh Ali Salman is a prisoner of conscience who is being held solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression.”

Ali Salman, who led the now outlawed Al-Wefaq movement, was accused of plotting with Qatar to stoke anti-government unrest in 2011, along with fellow opposition leaders Hassan Sultan and Ali al-Aswad.

They have also received life sentences.

Bahrain’s public prosecutor said the three men were jailed for “acts of hostility” against Bahrain and “communicating with Qatari officials… to overthrow constitutional order”, according to news agency AFP. </s> FILE -- In this Sunday, May 21, 2017 file photo, U.S. President Donald Trump, right, meets with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Trump's administration had approved a multibillion-dollar sale of F-16 fighter jets to Bahrain without the human rights conditions imposed by the State Department under President Barack Obama. On Tuesday May 23, 2017, Bahrain police raided a town where a sit-in has been going on for months supporting a prominent Shiite cleric who had his citizenship stripped by the government. Activists and rights group warn Trump's embrace of Bahrain only will fuel the crackdown. </s> Bahrain's opposition leader, Sheikh Ali Salman, has been handed a life sentence after the Court of Appeal found him guilty of spying for Qatar.

The ruling comes just months after the Bahraini High Court of First Tier acquitted Salman of the charge of "colluding" with the rival state.

Human rights group Amnesty has described the decision as a "travesty of justice" amid Bahrain's "continued crackdown on dissent".

"This verdict... demonstrates the Bahraini authorities' relentless and unlawful efforts to silence any form of dissent," Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa director Heba Morayef said.

"Sheikh Ali Salman is a prisoner of conscience who is being held solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression."
• Why Qatar is the focus of terrorism claims

Ali Salman, who led the now outlawed Al-Wefaq movement, was accused of plotting with Qatar to stoke anti-government unrest in 2011, along with fellow opposition leaders Hassan Sultan and Ali al-Aswad.

They have also received life sentences.

Bahrain's public prosecutor said the three men were jailed for "acts of hostility" against Bahrain and "communicating with Qatari officials... to overthrow constitutional order", according to news agency AFP.

But the accusations, which date back seven years, only came to light last year - after Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt cut links with Qatar.

The allies accused the emirate of supporting terrorist groups and of being too close to Iran - allegations the emirate has vigorously denied.

At the time, Wefaq said the allegations were an attempt by the Bahraini government to smear it and prolong the imprisonment of its leader, who has been in custody since 2015.

Demonstrators - mainly led by the majority Shia community - took to the streets in February 2011, demanding more democracy as part of pro-democracy uprisings across the Arab world.

But the royal Al Khalifa family, who hold most of the political and military posts, managed to suppress the protests with the help of neighbouring countries, most importantly Saudi Arabia.

The unrest left at least 30 civilians and five policemen dead.

Ever since, the Sunni-ruled Bahrain has been wracked by unrest. In response, Bahrain - a key ally of the United States and the UK, which both have naval bases in the country - has outlawed opposition groups, while hundreds of government critics have been jailed. </s> Bahrain's opposition leader, Sheikh Ali Salman, has been handed a life sentence after the Court of Appeal found him guilty of spying for Qatar.

The ruling comes just months after the Bahraini High Court of First Tier acquitted Salman of the charge of "colluding" with the rival state.

Human rights group Amnesty has described the decision as a "travesty of justice" amid Bahrain's "continued crackdown on dissent".

"This verdict... demonstrates the Bahraini authorities' relentless and unlawful efforts to silence any form of dissent," Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa director Heba Morayef said.

"Sheikh Ali Salman is a prisoner of conscience who is being held solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression."
• Why Qatar is the focus of terrorism claims

Ali Salman, who led the now outlawed Al-Wefaq movement, was accused of plotting with Qatar to stoke anti-government unrest in 2011, along with fellow opposition leaders Hassan Sultan and Ali al-Aswad.

The accusation emerged after Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt cut links with Qatar in June 2017, accusing the emirate of supporting terrorist groups and of being too close to Iran - allegations the emirate has vigorously denied.

At the time, Wefaq said the allegations were an attempt by the Bahraini government to smear it and prolong the imprisonment of its leader, who has been in custody since 2015.

Sunni-ruled Bahrain has been wracked by unrest since security forces crushed pro-democracy protests mainly led by the majority Shia community six years ago.

But the royal family of Al Khalifa managed to suppress the protests with the help of neighbouring countries, most importantly Saudi Arabia.

Ali Salman can still appeal against the decision.
The Obama administration urges Bahrain to free Nabeel Rajab, a human rights activist.