( CNN ) -- Twitter posts about anti-government protests have landed a human rights activist in Bahrain behind bars . Said Yousif al-Muhafda is accused of disseminating false information about clashes between security forces and protesters in the country 's capital , the state-run Bahrain News Agency said Thursday . Al-Muhafda , the head of documentation for the Bahrain Center of Human Rights , was arrested Monday during a demonstration , attorney Mohamed Al-Jishi said . Just before his arrest , the center said a series of posts went out on his Twitter account , describing a shotgun injury , tear gas and `` security forces spraying pepper spray on female protesters faces as they mock them/laugh . '' Al-Muhafda has been using the account for months to document what he says are human rights violations in Bahrain . A government prosecutor pointed to one Twitter post , which showed a picture of an injured leg . The image , posted Monday , `` resulted in protests and acts of sabotage that disrupted security on that same day , '' Bahrain 's government news agency said , citing Deputy Attorney General Mohammed Salah . The activist 's attorney says he was observing the demonstration , not participating . He is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday . Human rights activists have criticized the arrest , saying it is part of a growing crackdown on social media posts . `` The authorities are placing extensive surveillance on social media , and several were arrested because of their online posts in an act that serves to intimidate others to move into self-censorship , '' the Gulf Center for Human Rights and the Bahrain Center for Human Rights said in a statement . Bahraini authorities imposed a ban on public protests in October , saying it was necessary because `` increasing violence has resulted in death and serious injury to many . '' But Amnesty International said the move breached people 's right to free speech . Violent clashes have broken out between security forces and opposition protesters on numerous occasions since protests began in the island nation in February 2011 , spurred by uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt . Bahrain plays a key strategic role in the Middle East and is home to the U.S. Navy 's 5th Fleet headquarters . U.S. still concerned about violence in Bahrain . Bahrain strips Shiite activists of citizenship .
Yousif al - Muhafda is accused of disseminating false information about clashes . A prosecutor pointed to a bomb that went up during a demonstration there . The activist 's attorney says he was observing the demonstration , not fighting . Human rights groups say his arrest is part of a larger crackdown on social media .