Bahrain Mirror: (WASHINGTON) Freedom House recalled two Bahraini activists in the celebration it held on Tuesday (May 24, 2016) at the Newseum in Washington, DC, marking its 75th anniversary. The rights group mentioned the names of the two human rights defenders Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja and his daughter Zainab Al-Khawaja, among a 1ist of 12 worldwide activists who are still behind bars over expressing their opinions.

Freedom House called for remembering them and continuing to press for their release.

It also recalled the founder of "Saudi Liberals" website, Raef Badawi, who has been imprisoned by Saudi authorities since 2012 over charges of "defaming Islam via the Internet".

Freedom House granted the Freedom of Expression Award to the Saudi writer and human rights activist Hala Al-Dosari.

"She is one of the prominent women's rights activists in Saudi Arabia where women's rights are still limited," stated Freedom House.

It further highlighted that Al-Dosari "participated in the Women to Drive Movement in 2013 and 2014 and in writing a petition to the Saudi Shura Council calling it to end the absolute male guardianship of women and demanding serious measures to protect women's rights and put an end to domestic violence."

Freedom House also granted the Freedom of Expression Award to the Iraqi Member of Parliament Vian Dakhil, describing her as "the only representative of the ethnic and religious Yazidi minority in the Iraqi Parliament."

However, the Leadership Award was granted to US Senator of the State from Illinois Richard Durbin and the Freedom of Expression Award to the Argentinian Héctor Magnetto, executive CEO of the Clarín Group, the country's largest media company.

This year marks Freedom House's 75th anniversary. It was established in 1941 to defend democracy all over the world. On this occasion, Freedom House threw a dinner party that was attended by a number of media figures and groups.

Arabic Version