Further Information on UA: 306/14 Index: MDE 11/049/2014 Bahrain Date: 11 December 2014
Zainab Al-Khawaja was sentenced on 9 December to one year and four months’ imprisonment by a Lower Criminal
Court in the capital, Manama. The court handed down a one-year prison sentence for “insulting a police officer” and upheld two previous two-month sentences for “destroying government property”. She has the right to appeal before an
Appeal Court but remains at risk of rearrest.
Zainab Al-Khawaja previously refused to appear in court and was sentenced in her absence by the Lower Criminal Court, on 27 January 2014, to four months’ imprisonment for ripping up framed pictures of the King belonging to the Ministry of
Interior on 4 and 6 May 2012. She was charged with “insulting a police officer” because she verbally defended another pris oner who was insulted and humiliated by a prison guard on 22 June 2013 in ‘Issa Town detention center for women, south of Manama, where both women were held. Her trial began on 5 February.
On 10 December Zainab Al-Khawaja was informed that she would be facing yet another trial for a new case brought against her in connection with an incident that took place on 28 August in Jaw prison as she was attempting to visit her father, Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, who was on hunger strike.
On 8 December Zainab Al-Khawaja lodged an appeal against the three-year sentence issued against her on 4 December and paid the 100 Bahraini Dinars bail (about US$265) to halt the implementation of the sentence until the Appeal Court examines her case. The first session for her appeal has been scheduled for 15 June 2015.
Please write immediately in Arabic, English or your own language:
 Urging the authorities to quash Zainab AlKhawaja’s convictions and drop all outstanding charges against her, as they would make her a prisoner of conscience, held solely for peacefully exercising her right to freedom of expression;
 Urging them to repeal all legislation that criminalizes the right to freedom of expression and respect and protect this right.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 22 JANUARY 2015 TO:
King
Shaikh Hamad bin ‘Issa Al Khalifa
Minister of Interior
Shaikh Rashid bin ‘Abdullah Al Khalifa
Office of His Majesty the King
P.O. Box 555
Rifa’a Palace, al-Manama,
Bahrain
Fax: 011 973 1766 4587
Salutation: Your Majesty
Ministry of Interior
P.O. Box 13, al-Manama, Bahrain
Fax: 011 973 1723 2661
Twitter: @moi_Bahrain
Salutation: Your Excellency
Also send copies to:
H.E. Ambassador Shaikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Khalifa, Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain
And copies to :
Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs
Shaikh Khalid bin Ali bin Abdullah Al Khalifa
Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs
P. O. Box 450, al-Manama, Bahrain
Fax: 011 973 1753 1284
Twitter: @Khaled_Bin_Ali
Salutation: Your Excellency
3502 International Dr. NW, Washington DC 20008
Fax: 1 202 362 2192 I Email: ambsecretary@bahrainembassy.org
Please let us know if you took action so that we can track our impact! EITHER send a short email to uan@aiusa.org with "UA 306/14" in the subject line, and include in the body of the email the number of letters and/or emails you sent, OR fill out this short online form (press Ctrl + click on link) to let us know how you took action. Thank you for taking action! Please check with the AIUSA Urgent Action Office if sending appeals after the above date. This is the first update of UA 306/14. Further information: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE11/048/2014/en

In February 2014, the authorities amended a provision in the Penal Code and toughened penalties for “insulting the King”.
The offense is now punishable by up to seven years in prison and a fine of up to 10,000BD (about US$26,500). The sentence could be longer if the offense happens in the presence of the King. Previously Article 214 of the Code only states that “A prison sentence shall be the penalty for any person who offends the emir of the country [the King], the national flag or emblem”.
Zainab Al-Khawaja has been arrested and released several times since December 2011. She was arrested on 27
February 2013, and spent nearly a year in prison serving several short sentences for an array of charges. These included
“destroying government property”, “insulting a policewoman”, “illegal gathering and rioting” and “inciting hatred against the regime”. She was last arrested on 14 October for tearing up a picture of the King while appearing before a Lower Criminal
Court in relation to two separate cases. During the hearing and according to witnesses, she said: "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." She also took out a picture of the King of Bahrain from her handbag, tore it up and handed it to the judge, who ordered her arrest.
She was released on 19 November following a court order.
Name: Zainab Al-Khawaja (f)
Issues: Freedom of expression, Prisoner of conscience, Legal concern
Further information on UA: 306/14 (5 December 2014)
Issue Date: 11 December 2014
Country: Bahrain
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T. 202.509.8193 | F. 202.546.7142 | E. uan@aiusa.org | amnestyusa.org/urgent