DUBAI, April 7 (Reuters) – Bahrain released the daughter of
a jailed activist on Saturday, having detained her during a
protest calling for his release, her lawyer said, adding that
the life of her father was in danger after 59 days on hunger
strike.
Zainab al-Khawaja had been arrested on Thursday outside the
Interior Ministry where she was taking part in a rally to demand
that her father Abdulhadi be freed. The ministry said in a
statement she had “assaulted a public employee”.
Abdulhadi was moved to a military hospital on Friday after
his health deteriorated sharply. The Khawajas’ lawyer said
Zainab had been questioned and then released.
“They let her go,” said Mohammed al-Jishi, adding that her
father was in a fragile condition, with very low blood pressure
and blood sugar levels.
Bahrain’s state news agency BNA confirmed she had been
released.
Abdulhadi is one of 14 men in prison for his role in Shi’ite
Muslim-led protests that erupted last year against the Gulf Arab
state’s ruling Sunni elite.
More than a year on, protests still flare daily in Shi’ite
areas, often descending into violence. Recent demonstrations
have called for Khawaja’s release and the cancellation of the
Formula One Grand Prix, which Bahrain is due to host on April
20-22.
Shi’ites, a majority in Western-allied Bahrain, have
demanded reforms and an end to the Sunni minority’s monopoly on
power. Some have called for the removal of the ruling Al Khalifa
family.
(Reporting by Isabel Coles; Editing by Andrew Roche)
