17/01/2018 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 17 January, the EU reiterated its call to the government of Bahrain to release human rights activist Nabeel Rajab "on humanitarian grounds", especially due to his poor state of health. The EU added that it was following Rajab's case closely. The Bahraini Court of Cassation decided to uphold Rajab's two-year prison sentence for "the propagation of false news" during media interviews in 2015 and 2016. "The government of Bahrain should show commitment to its own reform agenda by upholding freedom of expression. Suppressing voices of dissent can only contribute to fuel resentment and instability", the European External Action Service spokesperson stated in a press release, adding that the EU encouraged all parties in Bahrain "to relaunch a dialogue conducive to national reconciliation in a peaceful and constructive manner". (CG)