Leading Bahrain human rights activist Maryam AlKhawaja has been arrested by authorities on her arrival at the international airport in Manama.
To be clear, I'm officially under arrest on unknown charges. They will bring me before a judge tomorrow at an unknown time. #Bahrain
— Maryam Alkhawaja (@MARYAMALKHAWAJA) August 30, 2014
AlKhawaja, the co-director of the Gulf Centre for Human Rights, was subsequently charged with insulting the king, assaulting police officers, and being involved with the rights campaign Wanted For Justice.
AlKhawaja’s father, Abdulhadi AlKhawaja, is serving a life sentence for his activism, including his founding of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights. Her sister Zainab has been repeatedly imprisoned since mass protests began in Bahrain in February 2011, although she is currently free while prosecutors consider new charges.
Before her arrest, AlKhawaja, a dual Danish-Bahraini national was told she could not enter the country:
I'm being detained in airport. Telling me I don't have Bahraini citizenship. I'm asking for proof.
— Maryam Alkhawaja (@MARYAMALKHAWAJA) August 29, 2014
I'm denied entry. I'm starting a water-only hunger strike. I won't voluntarily leave. My only demand is to be let into my country. #Bahrain
— Maryam Alkhawaja (@MARYAMALKHAWAJA) August 29, 2014
The activist is being held for seven days and was not allowed to see a lawyer before her interrogation. AlKhawaja’s mother Khadija al-Musawi said her daughter will be transferred to the public prosecution court on Sunday.
AlKhawaja, who has lived in exile for several years, returned to Bahrain to see her father, who recently decided to go on a new hunger strike.
