In Bahrain woman’s slaying, accusations of royal involvement

The accusation goes to the heart of lingering unrest on the island off the coast of Saudi Arabia, now five years on from its Arab Spring protests and in the grips of a renewed government crackdown on dissent.

Salehi, known for her piercing blue eyes and friendly demeanor, worked as a sports journalist for Bahrain’s state-run television broadcaster.

The state-run Bahrain News Agency identified Salehi’s killer as a “34-year-old Bahraini man,” who “was referred to the relevant judicial party to continue the necessary legal procedures.”

[...] Bahrain’s state television channel has said that naming the accused in the case would be illegal, suggesting activists’ comments have struck a nerve.

Independent news gathering has grown more difficult since the government began a crackdown on dissent in April that has seen activists exiled, its main Shiite opposition group dismantled and others imprisoned.