Call to drop charges against rights activist

The Bahrain Human Rights Centre has asked the competent authorities and national and international organisations to intervene urgently to drop legal charges against women's rights activist Ghada Jamsheer.

The centre said in a press release to Gulf News that the accusations were an obstruction to freedom of expression and peaceful activities.

Jamsheer is to be tried next month on charges of using abusive language against Sharia judges, calling them "corrupted" and "unqualified".

She also accused a family court and a former Sharia judge of being "rude" and "unfair".

The charges in the third case were levelled by the former husband of a woman member of a committee, chaired by Ghada Jamsheer.

If found guilty, she may get up to 15 years in prison. The trials are scheduled for June 4, 15 and 19.

Jamsheer is the president of the Women's Petition Committee which has been debating complaints and cases violating the rights and dignity of women in the Sharia family courts, and calling for the urgent need to qualify Sharia Court Judges.

She also chairs the Bahrain Social Partnership for Combating Violence Against Women.