Bahrain extends female rights activist’s custody despite UN outcry

Bahrain extends female rights activist’s custody despite UN outcry
Sat Sep 6, 2014 17:41:47

A Bahrain court has ruled that prominent rights activist Maryam al-Khawaja be kept behind bars for an extra 10 days despite a UN call for her immediate release, her lawyer said.

Al-Khawaja was arrested on Aug. 30 on arrival in Manama to visit her jailed father, pro-democracy activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, who is on hunger strike in protest against his alleged unlawful detention for his role in protest against the al-Khalifa regime.

Al-Khawaja holds dual Bahraini and Danish citizenship, and is co-director of the Centre for Human Rights which has offices in Copenhagen and Beirut. Her mother said that she was refused entry in the country after presenting her Danish passport and a Bahraini identification card.

Khawaja's lawyer said that the activist was "stripped of her nationality" and prosecutors plan to present charges against her.

Following her interrogation, Maryam was transferred to Isa Town Women's prison where she will be detained for seven days pending investigation.

On September 5, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) called on the regime to free al-Khawaja.

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.

RA/SHI

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