Some 100 Bahrain citizens demonstrated yesterday before the headquarters of the government to the north of Manama demanding the release of the "judicial" activist in Bahrain, Abdul Hadi al-Khawaja, who has been detained since the end of September under the charge of "provoking for hatred of the regime" and called for the resignation of the prime minister Sheikh Khaleifa Bin Salman al-Khaleifa.
The demonstrators raised al-Khawaja pictures and banners demanding his release and they chanted slogans against the prime minister. Most of the demonstrators are of the young generation and most of them are members in Bahrain Center For Human Rights which was dissolved by the government in September. Al-Khawaja is the deputy chairman for the center. The gathering was organized by "the solidarity committee with Abdul Hadi al-Khawaja."
Upon the beginning of his trial on Saturday before the second minor criminal court in al-Manama, al-Khawaja defended himself against the charge that "he is provoking for hating the regime and disseminating false rumors that might cause general insecurity and damaging the national interests." Since his detention, al-Khawaja supporters continue organizing demonstrations in the country for his release.

Arabicnews - Bahrain
10 - 18 - 2004

AFP Photo : Dozens of Bahraini protesters demonstrate outside their prime minister’s residence in Manama to call for the release of fellow human rights activist Abdul Hadi al-Khawaja who appeared in court on the weekend on charges of "inciting hatred against the regime" in a case that has sparked protests abroad as well.(AFP/Adam Jan)

Protesters demand release of Bahraini rights activist

Around 80 people, mostly youths, rallied in the Bahraini capital calling for the release of a human rights activist being tried on charges of "inciting hatred against the regime."
"Freedom for our leader Abdul Hadi," said one of the banners raised by the protesters, referring to Abdul Hadi al-Khawaja whose trial opened Saturday after the human rights center in which he served as vice president was shut down.
The protesters, many from the closed Bahrain Center for Human Rights, carried portraits of Khawaja.
Pro-reform and rights activists have signed a petition denouncing Khawaja’s arrest. Dozens of protesters also staged a sit-in and a candlelight vigil last Friday on a main Manama avenue.
Khawaja, whose trial resumes on Wednesday, has pleaded not guilty. He was arrested after addressing a poverty symposium at which he made remarks critical of the government’s management of the economy.

AFP - Manama
10 - 18 - 2004