British activist prosecuted for password loop

london - The British authorities are pursuing a human rights activist who refused to give away the passwords for his phone and computer at Heathrow airport. Muhammad Abdur Rabbani (36) was guilty of 'obstruction,' reported the British police.

Rabbani was told on Wednesday at a police station in London that he should appear before the court on June 20. He would have violated British anti-war legislation last year by refusing to reveal his passwords after he arrived in Britain. Then he spent one night in the cell.

The British activist recently told The Guardian that he could not sniff the authorities in his laptop. On the computer was confidential information that he could not release without permission from a source. It is about documentation related to a lawsuit on alleged torture practices involving US intelligence services.

Activists responded to the incident. 'Use general powers to combat terrorism to force people to pass their passwords is inappropriate,' said Jim Killock of the Open Rights Group against the newspaper. 'An investigation should only take place if there is a suspicion. '