Bahrain Mirror: The Bahraini authorities announced that human rights activist Zainab Al-Khawaja, who is serving 3 years in prison over insulting the king, is to be released for "humanitarian" reasons, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary, Ambassador Abdulla Abdullatif Abdulla.

Abdulla explained that "in the framework of the ministry's following up on the cases of two prisoners holding foreign nationalities who were convicted in criminal cases. Reports have been prepared with the knowledge of the Ombudsman's Office of the cases of Zainab Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja who was sentenced to three years and one month in prison, and Arina Bajtova, sentenced to two years and ten days. The two women were serving their sentences while looking after their children aged a year and four years respectively. Each woman was placed in an independent room in a ward dedicated to mothers. The room comprises two beds and one bed for children. All means of comfort are provided for the children who regularly undergo medical checkups to ensure they are provided with comfort and care."

"However, due to the humanitarian situation of the children, the possibility of negative repercussions that may affect them in a place of punishment, the conditions of psychological instability for the caretakers, and in line with the implementation of the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code that takes into account the principles of humanity in the application of prison sentences, the competent authorities have decided to stop the implementation of the punishment of each of the two prisoners and to release them. All due measures will be taken towards them, in consideration of their situation and humanitarian principles," further stressed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary.

Bahraini Minister of Foreign Affairs Khalid bin Ahmad Al Khalifa pledged while meeting his American counterpart John Kerry last month in the Bahraini capital Manama to release Al-Khawaja. The authorities; however, delayed her release.

Arabic Version