 Bahrain: One-year prison sentence for activist who ripped up photo of King a vindictive assault on freedom of expression 
 
 Today’s appeal verdict against Bahraini activist Zainab Al-Khawaja, confirming her conviction on charges of “insulting” the King of Bahrain and reducing her three-year prison sentence to one year, is the latest example of the authorities’ total disregard for the right to freedom of expression, said Amnesty International. The verdict, confirming a conviction for ripping up a photo of the King in court in October 2014, coincides with Zainab Al- Khawaja’s 32nd birthday and leaves the mother of two facing a prison sentence of a year and at risk of immediate re-arrest 
 
 Zainab Al-Khawaja's family have told Amnesty International that if she is imprisoned she intends to keep her baby son - just under a year old- with her while she serves her sentence. Zainab Al-Khawaja is the daughter of prominent activist and prisoner of conscience Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, who is currently serving a life sentence for his peaceful role in anti-government protests in 2011. If the fine is not paid her prison term will be extended by around a year and a half. Zainab Al-Khawaja has been arrested and released several times since December 2011 and has previously spent almost a year and a half in prison. She is also appealing three other convictions against her, including a four-month sentence for two charges of “destroying public property” for ripping up photos of the King of Bahrain in May 2012 and a one-year sentence for “insulting a public officer” after she spoke out to defend another prisoner who was insulted and humiliated by a prison guard in June 2013.
– The daughter of a well-known Bahraini human rights activist was sentenced Wednesday to a year in jail for delivering the ultimate insult to her country's king: ripping up a picture of him, Reuters reports. Zainab al-Khawaja, 32, lost her appeal on a conviction for tearing up a photo of King Hamad during an October 2014 court appearance, Amnesty International USA notes. "It is ludicrous that Zainab Al-Khawaja is facing a year in prison simply for tearing up a photo of the head of state," an Amnesty International director says in the release. "She should not be punished in any way for peacefully exercising her right to freedom of expression." The mother of two, who Reuters notes also has to pay an almost $8,000 fine or face an additional year and a half behind bars, intends to bring her infant son into prison with her if she's made to go, her family informs Amnesty. Khawaja is the daughter of Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, who's serving a life sentence for taking part in pro-democracy protests in 2011.