Bahrain Mirror: Amnesty International denounced charging Bahraini human rights activist Ebtisam Al-Sayegh with "terrorism," deeming it "a chilling blow to human rights in the country".

"Ebtisam Al-Saegh is a prisoner of conscience who must be immediately and unconditionally released," said Samah Hadid, Director of Campaigns for the Middle-East at Amnesty International, adding that "her only ‘crime', is her bravery in challenging the government's appalling human rights record."

She stressed that by charging her with terrorism for her work on human rights, the Bahraini government is itself attempting to intimidate and silence civil society in Bahrain, noting that "Amnesty International has strong reasons to believe that Ebtisam al-Saegh is at risk of torture and other ill-treatment."

Hadid further stated that there must be public outcry over the deteriorating situation in Bahrain. "The silence of the UK government, which continues to insist that Bahrain is on a path to human rights reform, is deafening and shameful, and appears to have played a part in emboldening the Bahraini government to commit more human rights violations."

Arabic Version