03/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - Ashton regrets Court decision on human rights. On 2 December, the European Union learned of the decision by a Bahraini Court to reject the request by human rights protester Nabeel Rajab for early release, said Michael Mann, the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, on Tuesday. Rajab has already served 18 months of his two-year prison sentence and is scheduled to be released May 2014. Mann recalled that Ashton has publicly expressed her concern at the sentencing of Rajab to three years in prison for taking part in unauthorised protests in Bahrain on 16 August 2012. On appeal, his sentence was reduced to two years. “We urge the government of Bahrain to protect the universal rights of freedom of expression and assembly”, said Mann, calling at the same time for all elements of Bahraini society to engage in peaceful expressions of political opinion. (CG/transl.fl)