Danish-Bahraini human rights activist Maryam Al Khawaja (27) was arbitrarily detained upon arrival in Bahrain on Saturday 30th of August 2014. Since the government crackdown in 2011, she has courageously advocated for Bahrain to adhere to international standards on human rights. Charges are being held against her for ´assaulting a police officer´ when resisting the confiscation of her mobile phone in Manama Intl Airport; these charges are upheld in spite of the fact that she was met by security forces within minutes of disembarking her flight. 

The activist had travelled to Bahrain with the intention of visiting her ailing father, human rights defender Abdulhadi Al Khawaja, who is arbitrarily detained in the country (as confirmed by the UN working group on arbitrary detention) and serving life imprisonment for his calls on political reform. Al Khawaja´s father is currently on hunger strike and his health is fast deteriorating. Doctors have warned that he may not have longer than 15 days. 

This petition calls for the release of our dear friend Maryam Al Khawaja and calls for the government to grant her permission to visit her father Abdulhadi Al Khawaja in prison. 

Please tweet for the release of Maryam Al Khawaja using the hashtag #FreeMaryam and a link to this petition. Reprisals against human rights defenders are unacceptable under international law.