Zainab Al Khawaja enjoys all rights under law

The Acting Director-General for Reformation & Rehabilitation said on Monday that Zainab Abdulhadi Abdullah Al Khawaja, 32, who was taken into custody on 15 March after being convicted in a number of cases, enjoys all of her rights as stated in the Reformation & Rehabilitation Law of 2014.

He said the sentences against her include a one-year jail term for insulting a public employee in 2013 and a two-month sentence for an act of sabotage in 2014.

He said Al Khawaja had sought to keep her 16-month-old son with her at the Women's Reformation and Rehabilitation Centre and the request was approved. She signed a statement in this regard on 16 March. 

The directorate provides all childcare necessities and she is being housed in an area meant for mothers and children. Her son received a medical check-up and was provided with required medication as per normal procedures.

The Acting Director-General said the centre had approved a number of Al Khawaja's requests, including allowing her son home visits with her husband on certain days. Her daughter will also be permitted to stay with her for one full day.  Medical appointments for Al Khawaja were scheduled by the Health Affairs Directorate.

He said the department continues to fulfil its legal duty to offer round-the-clock medical care to all inmates who might need it. He asked the media to follow to journalistic ethics, especially accuracy, and avoid publishing unverified information.