Bahrain rights activist to stand trial from October 1

Maryam al-Khawaja, who is the daughter of a jailed top Shia opposition figure, would remain in the Al Khalifa regime’s custody until her trial date, Mohammed al-Jishi told AFP on Tuesday.

Jishi said Khawaja could serve a five-year term should she get convicted at the court.

Last week, the activist said at a hearing in a judge's office that the charges against her were "vindictive and fabricated," Jishi said.

On September 5, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) called on the regime to free the activist.

Maryam’s father, Abdulhadi, was jailed for life on charges of plotting to overthrow the regime in 2011.

Khawaja, who is a resident of Denmark, was detained upon her arrival in the Persian Gulf country for a visit to her father on August 30.

On June 10, the OHCHR censured the Manama regime for human rights violations in the country. A total of 46 members of the international body expressed deep concern over the Al Khalifa regime’s crackdown on peaceful protesters.

Since mid-February 2011, thousands of pro-democracy protesters have held numerous demonstrations in the streets of Bahrain, calling for the Al Khalifa royal family to relinquish power.

On March 14, 2011, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates invaded the country to assist the Bahraini government in its crackdown on peaceful protesters.

According to local sources, scores of people have been killed.

HK