Update on Bahrain – Sheikh Al Salim sentenced to nine years in Prison while Zain

On 28 December 2015, a group of activists, human rights defenders and opposition leaders gathered to observe the first anniversary of Sheikh Ali Salman's arrest and detention in Bahrain. Just seven months earlier, a court sentenced Sheikh Salman, the secretary general of Bahrain’s largest opposition bloc, al-Wefaq, to four years in prison for “inciting hatred, promoting disobedience and ‘insulting’ public institutions". On 30 May 2016, the Bahraini Court of Appeal toughened the sentence against Sheikh Ali Salman increasing his sentencing to 9 years. Meanwhile Bahraini released Zainab Al- Khawaja yesterday on Humanitarian grounds. Zainab was arrested and imprisoned on charges relating to her right to freedom of expression. Bahrain’s Foreign Minister announced the government would release Zainab on humanitarian grounds. As the charges against her remain, Zainab risks re-arrest and imprisonment at any moment.

Guest: Michael Payne
Position: the International Advocacy Officer for Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain