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Middle East

Bahrain releases prominent activist from prison

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    FILE - In this Sept. 6, 2014 file photo, Bahraini prominent rights activist Zainab al-Khawaja waits to hear about her detained sister, Maryam al-Khawaja, outside the court in Manama, Bahrain. On Tuesday, May, 31, 2016 authorities in Bahrain released Zainab al-Khawaja on humanitarian grounds after two and a half months behind bars. The sisters are the daughters of Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, who is serving a life sentence over his role in Arab Spring-inspired protests in 2011. A dual Danish-Bahraini citizen, Zainab was detained on March 14 and faced three years in prison on charges related to her participation in anti-government protests, including tearing up pictures of Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali, File) (The Associated Press)

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    FILE -- In this Oct. 21, 2012 file photo, Bahraini opposition activist Zainab al-Khawaja, left, gestures as she shouts "God is greater than any tyrant," while being arrested by police officers in Eker, Bahrain. On Tuesday, May 31, 2016, Bahraini authorities released prominent rights activist Zainab al-Khawaja on humanitarian grounds after two and a half months behind bars. A dual Danish-Bahraini citizen, she was detained on March 14, 2016 and faced three years in prison on charges related to her participation in anti-government protests, including tearing up pictures of Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali, File) (The Associated Press)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Bahraini authorities have released prominent rights activist Zainab al-Khawaja on humanitarian grounds after two and a half months behind bars.

The activist's sister, Maryam al-Khawaja, confirmed her release to The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Zainab al-Khawaja is the daughter of well-known activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, who is serving a life sentence over his role in Arab Spring-inspired protests in 2011.

A dual Danish-Bahraini citizen, she was detained on March 14 and faced three years in prison on charges related to her participation in anti-government protests, including tearing up pictures of Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

Bahrain's Foreign Ministry announced plans to release her earlier this month on account of her year-old son, who was allowed to stay with her in a special prison ward for new mothers.

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