The Arabist

The Arabist

By Issandr El Amrani and friends.

Bahrain: A year in jail for a poem


On Sunday a court in Bahrain sentenced Ayat Al Qurmazi, a 20-year-old education student, to a year in prison for insulting the king and inciting hatred. Al Qurmazi became famous after reciting poetry Pearl Square that includes the lines such as:  

We are the people who will kill humiliation and assassinate misery 
We are the people who will destroy the foundation of injustice 
Don't you hear their cries, don't you hear their screams 

You can see her reciting her poetry -- dedicated directly to the king -- here.

According to the Associated Press, while in detention Al Qurmazi was lashed in the face with electrical cables and forced to clean toilets with her hands. Here is a Facebook page dedicated to her case.