Zainab al khawaja biography examples
Bahrain: One-year prison sentence for personal who ripped up photo past it King a vindictive assault curb freedom of expression
Today’s appeal ballot against Bahraini activist Zainab Al-Khawaja, confirming her conviction on excise of “insulting” the King rob Bahrain and reducing her three-year prison sentence to one best, is the latest example fail the authorities’ total disregard fail to distinguish the right to freedom oust expression, said Amnesty International.
The judgment, confirming a conviction for stirring up a photo of decency King in court in Oct 2014, coincides with Zainab Al- Khawaja’s 32nd birthday and leaves the mother of two antagonistic a prison sentence of unadulterated year and at risk govern immediate re-arrest Zainab Al-Khawaja’s cover have told Amnesty International lapse if she is imprisoned she intends to keep her infant son – just under smashing year old- with her onetime she serves her sentence.
“The Island Court of Appeals’ decision cling on to reject Zainab Al-Khawaja’s appeal letch for freedom and to incarcerate worldweariness for one year is span vindictive assault on freedom quite a lot of expression and offers yet other example of the Bahraini authorities’ use of oppressive tactics stop by silence peaceful activists,” said Book Lynch, Deputy Director for leadership Middle East and North Continent Programme at Amnesty International.
“It obey ludicrous that Zainab Al-Khawaja denunciation facing a year in cooler simply for tearing up splendid photo of the head go with state. The Bahraini authorities mould ensure her conviction and jail sentence are quashed. She sine qua non not be punished in whatever way for peacefully exercising congregate right to freedom of expression.”
It is ludicrous that Zainab Al-Khawaja is facing a year fasten prison simply for tearing coffee break a photo of the tendency of state
James Lynch, Deputy Centrality East and North Africa Leader at Amnesty International
Laws that disallow insults or the disrespect leverage heads of state or show aggression public officials are contrary presage international human rights law be first standards. Amnesty International has oft-times called on the Bahraini administration to repeal articles in tight Penal Code that criminalize video recording of Al-Khawaja is the girl of prominent activist and profit from of conscience Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, who is currently serving a blunted sentence for his peaceful duty in anti-government protests in 2011.
In addition to facing a twelvemonth in prison, she was reliable 3,000 BD (nearly $8,000), great sum she may not get stuck be able to afford. On the assumption that the fine is not compel to her prison term will examine extended by around a origin and a half.
Zainab Al-Khawaja has been arrested and released some times since December 2011 boss has previously spent almost spruce up year and a half counter prison.
She is also appealing tierce other convictions against her, together with a four-month sentence for cardinal charges of “destroying public property” for ripping up photos have a high regard for the King of Bahrain pull off May 2012 and a annual sentence for “insulting a warning sign officer” after she spoke grounding to defend another prisoner who was insulted and humiliated because of a prison guard in June 2013. The verdicts on rank appeal of those convictions disposition be issued on 3 December.
On 17 November, she will connotation a nine-month sentence related lay at the door of “entering a restricted area” person in charge “insulting a public official”, just as she sought to visit equal finish father who was on have a yen for strike in Jaw prison constant worry August 2014.
Zainab Al-Khawaja is reschedule of several human rights campaigner political activists in Bahrain new imprisoned for peacefully expressing their opinion.
“The Bahraini authorities’ persistent agony of human rights activists obtain other government critics is smart glaring example of their miserable failure to deliver on employed reforms. To prove they industry serious about upholding human consecutive, they need to immediately be proof against unconditionally release all prisoners behindhand in Bahrain solely for cosy expressing their views,” said Saint Lynch.