Bahrain Rights Activist Bailed ahead of Trial

Bahrain human rights activist Maryam al-Khawaja was bailed Thursday pending trial for assaulting police officers, her lawyer said, following a plea from civil society groups from around the world.

Khawaja, a director of the Beirut-based Gulf Center for Human Rights, also has Danish nationality and is a daughter of jailed Shiite opposition idol Abdulhadi al-Khawaja.

She was arrested after arriving at Manama airport on August 30 and will go to trial on October 1. 

"Khawaja was freed today but has been prohibited from leaving Bahrain pending her appearance in court," Mohammed al-Jishi said, describing her release on bail as a "positive measure."

Earlier Thursday, Reporters Without Borders said nearly 160 civil society groups from more than 60 countries had urged King Hamad to order Khawaja's unconditional release.

"We... write to you united in our condemnation of the politically motivated arrest of human rights defender... Maryam al-Khawaja," said a letter to the king, which was also received by Agence France-Presse.

"We urge that Maryam is immediately and unconditionally released," it added.

Khawaja "is being persecuted for exercising her legitimate rights to freedom of expression and association in the defense of fundamental freedoms including her cooperation with international institutions and her important role in documenting human rights violations in Bahrain," it said.

"We stand in solidarity with Maryam and all other human rights defenders wrongly imprisoned by your government for their work and beliefs," it added.

The prosecution has said Khawaja hit two policewomen at the airport, but the activist claims she was attacked by police.

She faces up to five years in prison if convicted.

Tiny but strategic Bahrain, home base of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, remains deeply divided three years after the authorities crushed month-long protests.

Abdulhadi al-Khawaja was jailed for life following the 2011 Shiite-led protests against authorities in the Sunni-ruled Gulf state.

His daughter has been active abroad in criticizing the Bahraini authorities since the crackdown.

She has been a familiar figure in Washington, regularly meeting members of Congress and administration officials.

In 2011, she testified as a witness at a congressional hearing on Bahrain.