Bahrain Mirror: A number of human rights organizations demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Bahraini activist Ghada Jamsheer.

In a petition issued on Wednesday (November 16, 2016) the HR groups said that women's rights defender, writer and blogger Ghada Jamsheer remains in jail, serving a combined ten-month sentence for exercising her right to free expression on twitter after she complained of corruption at a hospital.

The undersigned, more than 20 HR organizations from around the world, called for the sentence to be overturned, as it violates her right to free expression, and for Jamsheer to be freed immediately so she can receive proper medical treatment for her debilitating rheumatoid arthritis.

Over 250 people have called for her freedom by signing the petition in support of Jamsheer and women human rights defenders in Bahrain.

The undersigned organisations, called on the government of Bahrain to: "Immediately and unconditionally free Ghada Jamsheer; overturn the sentence against Ghada Jamsheer, which violates her right to free expression; immediately and unconditionally free all detained human rights defenders in Bahrain; at the very minimum, ensure all prisoners, including Ghada Jamsheer and other human rights defenders, have access to proper medical treatment and ensure conditions in prison necessary to maintain health; and end all forms of reprisals against human rights defenders and other activists, including travel bans, in violation of their rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression."

The petition was signed by:

Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain

Arabic Network for Human Rights Information

Article 19

Association for Women's Rights in Development

Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy

Bahrain Center for Human Rights

Bahraini Organisation for Human Rights

Civicus

Front Line Defenders

Gulf Centre for Human Rights

FIDH, within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders

Brian Dooley, Human Rights First

Index on Censorship

International Service for Human Rights

Lawyer's Rights Watch Canada

Nazra for Feminist Studies

No Peace Without Justice

Reporters Without Borders

Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights

Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition

Women Human Rights Defenders Coalition in the Middle East and North Africa Coalition

World Organisation Against Torture, within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders

Arabic Version