Bahrain Mirror: The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Arabic said that Bahrain announced its intention to release human rights activist Zainab Al-Khawaja, who is currently serving a prison sentence, coinciding with the visit the US Secretary of State John Kerry paid to Bahrain.

In a joint press conference with his US counterpart, the Bahraini Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmad Al Khalifa said: "This is a humanitarian issue. Zainab Al-Khawaja will be released. We are awaiting the court's sentence. She will be sent to her house to be with her family and let her baby be in a better environment, but her case (in court) will continue."

For his part, Kerry stressed on the importance of respecting human rights and said: "Here, as in all nations, we believe that respect for human rights and an inclusive political system are essential in order to allow citizens to be able to reach and live out their full potential."

He further stated that he discussed with his Bahraini counterpart the continued efforts to address and reduce the sectarian division in Bahrain or any other place.

Kerry's visit was the first by a top American diplomat since the protests erupted in 2011.

Al-Khawaja was arrested from her home last month (along with her her infant son), as a Bahraini court sentenced her to three years in prison over charges of tearing up a photo of the King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

Amnesty International stressed that Zainab Al-Khawaja is considered to be  "prisoner of conscience" if the authorities implement the court sentence.

Amnesty also called on the Bahraini authorities in a statement issued last week to unconditionally release all "political prisoners" in the country.

Al-Khawaja, who holds dual Bahraini and Danish citizenship, is a daughter of a prominent activist serving a life sentence over 2011 popular protests that erupted in the small island nation.

She faces several years in prison on a variety of charges linked to her activism, including tearing up pictures of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

Since the start of the pro-democracy uprising in February 2011, Al-Khawaja has been detained several times. She refused to appeal to higher courts because she said Bahrain's judiciary was controlled by the government. She was sentenced to four months in jail in January on a charge of "destroying government property".

Al-Khawaja's younger sister, Maryam, was sentenced in absentia to one year in jail for assaulting a policewoman.

Arabic Version