01 Oct 12 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost
In a case that has drawn international condemnation, Bahrain‘s highest court today upheld prison sentences handed down to nine medics for weapons possession, incitement and taking part in illegal demonstrations last year. One of the doctors was sentenced to five years, and the remaining eight were given between a month and three years. Their original sentences of 15 years were reduced last June, with nine of the original group of 20 medics being acquitted. A further two remain at large.
26 Sep 12 | Middle East and North Africa, minipost, News and features
Bahraini human rights activist Zainab al-Khawaja has been sentenced to two months in prison after she allegedly tore up a picture of the ruler of the Gulf kingdom.
Al-Khawaja is the daughter of Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, the head of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, who has been in prison since April 2011. The BCHR was awarded the Index on Censorship Advocacy Award 2012.
Speaking at an Index event at the British parliament earlier this month, Zainab’s sister Maryam al-Khawaja called on the United Kingdom to end its support for the Bahraini regime.
19 Sep 12 | Bahrain Statements, Middle East and North Africa, News and features
As the Human Rights Council (HRC) prepares to release its final recommendations on Bahrain, Index joins over 100 NGOs in calling for the country to implement the recommendations. Daisy Williams reports
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23 Aug 12 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost
Prominent Bahraini human rights activist Nabeel Rajab was today acquitted of insulting the Sunni citizens of the island of Muharraq on Twitter. Rajab was sentenced to three months in prison on 9 July for his remarks on the site. However, the activist remains in jail after being sentenced to three years in prison last week for his involvement in “illegal protests”. Rajab, who is also head of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), has played in active role in condemning the government’s brutal crackdown on anti-government protests and activists since the start of unrest during February last year.
Rajab was presented with the Index on Censorship Advocacy Award earlier this year.
