Bahraini human rights activist released on bail

Bahraini authorities have released human rights activist Maryam al-Khawaja, who was arrested in the Persian Gulf country last month.

According to reports, the Bahraini activist was bailed on Thursday.

“Khawaja was freed today but has been prohibited from leaving Bahrain pending her appearance in court,” the activist’s lawyer, Mohammed al-Jishi, said.
Jishi also termed the fact that she was released on bail as a “positive measure”.

The female activist, who also holds a Danish nationality, is the daughter of a jailed top Shia opposition figure. She was detained upon her arrival in the Persian Gulf country for a visit to her father Abdulhadi al-Khawaja on August 30. Abdulhadi al-Khawaja was also jailed for life on charges of plotting to overthrow the regime in 2011.

Around 160 civil society groups from over 60 countries called on the Al Khalifa regime to release the Bahraini human rights activist, Reporters Without Borders said on Thursday.

Khawaja will go on trial on October 1 for allegedly assaulting a police officer.

On September 5, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) also urged the regime to free the female activist.

On June 10, the OHCHR censured the Manama regime for human rights violations in the country. A total of 46 members of the international body expressed deep concern over the Al Khalifa regime’s crackdown on peaceful protesters.

Since mid-February 2011, thousands of pro-democracy protesters have held numerous demonstrations in the streets of Bahrain, calling for the Al Khalifa royal family to relinquish power.

On March 14, 2011, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates invaded the country to assist the Bahraini government in its crackdown on peaceful protesters.

According to local sources, scores of people have been killed in the country.