Islam Times - Human Rights Watch denounces arrest of Bahraini activist

Islam Times - Human Rights Watch has denounced the arrest and detention of prominent Bahraini human rights activist Maryam al Khawaja stressing the authorities simply cannot strip nationals of their nationality on the basis of their religious or political affiliations.

HRW Executive Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Sarah Leah Whitson, has said in a statement to the press, “Human Rights Watch expressed its deepest concern over reports that Bahrain has chosen to detained human rights activist Maryam Al-Khawaja in Bahrain.”

She added, "It is not lawful for a state to strip a national from its nationality arbitrarily … Under international law, no government can deprive someone of his/her nationality or his/her right to enter his/her own country arbitrarily.”

Maryam Al Khawaja, daughter of Abdel-Hadi Al Khawaja was refused entry into Bahrain on September 30th. She holds a dual nationality – Danish/Bahraini.