JNN 25 May 2012 Manama : A Bahraini court on Thursday announced the jail term for Khawaja, accusing her of “using force against a policewoman and insulting her as forces of order tried to disperse an unauthorized rally” on April 21, Lebanon’s Daily Star reported. 

Khawaja is also accused of obstructing traffic on the same day by blocking a main road in the capital, Manama.

A Bahraini court yesterday sentenced Zainab al-Khawaja, the daughter of a prominent imprisoned opposition activist, to one month in jail for trying to organise an anti-government protest, her mother said.

Khawaja, the daughter of Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, who has been on hunger strike for more than three months, was arrested a month ago for trying to stage a protest during Bahrain’s Formula One Grand Prix.

She was arrested one day before the Formula One Grand Prix in Manama while sitting peacefully in the middle of a main road leading to the Bahrain International Circuit.

The female activist was demanding the cancellation of the race and an end to the Saudi-backed crackdown on popular protests.

Zainab has been arrested several times for organizing protests demanding the release of her father, prominent activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, who has been on a hunger strike since February

On Tuesday, a court adjourned to May 27 another case against Zainab al-Khawaja in which she is charged with holding a rally along with another woman in December in the middle of a roundabout on the flashpoint Budaiya Highway, outside Manama.

Another court also fined her 200 dinars (USD 530) on Monday for insulting a police officer.
She was fined 200 dinars ($530) on Monday on a separate charge related to insulting a government employee.

“She was supposed to be released since she has already served the jail term,” Zainab’s mother, Khadija Almousawi, said from Manama. “She refused to pay the fine and the judge said she would remain in jail for (a further) 40 days unless she pays it.”

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