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Human Rights Watch demands immediate release of Bahraini activist, Zainab Al-Khawaja

By Ibrahim Usman with Agency Reports
The New York-based NGO said on Thursday that Khawaja appeared before a Bahraini court to face charges related to two previous incidents, in which she had torn up photographs of the king. Once in the courtroom on Wednesday, she pulled out and ripped up another photograph of the monarch.

“A Bahraini rights activist jailed for ripping up a photo of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in court on October 14, 2014, should be released immediately. Bahrain should drop all freedom-of-expression related charges against the activist, Zainab al-Khawaja, who is eight months pregnant and has been charged with insulting the king,” the body has said.

“Zainab al-Khawaja has exposed the thin skin of Bahraini authorities, armed again only with a photograph,” Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, said.

“Where are the voices of the United States and United Kingdom, the supposed global champions of human rights, when it comes to Bahrain, a serial offender when it comes to punishing free speech,” he noted.

Amnesty International has said Khawaja could face up to seven years in prison if convicted. HRW has said she could also face a fine of up to USD 26,500.

Zainab al-Khawaja, an eight-month pregnant Bahraini activist who was detained for "insulting" the king.

She previously spent almost a year in prison on a number of charges, including taking part in illegal protests and insulting police officers, before being released in February.

Her father, prominent activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, is serving a life sentence after calling for a political reform in Bahrain.

Zainab Al-Khawaja was arrested on 14 October 2014, during a court hearing where she was scheduled to face charges related to tearing a photograph of the King.

Zainab Al-Khawaja was arrested on 14 October 2014, during a court hearing where she was scheduled to face charges related to tearing a photograph of the King.

According to witnesses present at the trial, Zainab asked to speak, and stated to the court that "I am the daughter of a proud and free man. My mother brought me into this world free, and I will give birth to a free baby boy even if it is inside our prisons. It is my right, and my responsibility as a free person, to protest against oppression and oppressors." Zainab Al-Khawaja then tore a photograph of the King of Bahrain in the court, and placed it in front of the judge. The court was immediately dismissed, and everyone was made to leave the court room while Zainab Al-Khawaja was placed under arrest.

Zainab Al-Khawaja was taken to Alhoora police station, and was allowed to telephone her family. She is currently almost nine months pregnant, and could give birth at any time.

The charges against Zainab Al-Khawaja are entirely related to freedom of expression, and the Bahrain Center for Human Rights and Gulf Center for Human Rights reiterate their calls for the immediate dismissal of these cases and all other politically motivated charges against her.