Detained child protester allowed to stay at home.
- 12 years ago
An 11-year-old boy detained for taking part in protests in Bahrain is free to stay at home.
At his family's house outside of Manama, Ali Hassan and his father say they're perplexed by the court's decision. Under the ruling, he won't have to return to government custody, but will have to be monitored for at least a year.
SOUNDBITE: Ali Hassan saying:
"I am a small boy. Why would they still keep me under observation for one year?"
Hassan remembers the day authorities approached him.
SOUNDBITE: Ali Hassan saying:
"We were playing football and the ball went on the other side, where the roads were blocked. While I went to get the ball, there was a private car that came towards me and a person came out running after me. As I tried to run, the person got hold of me."
All of this happened the day after Hassan participated in helping to block a road.
He spent nearly a month at a juvenile detention center. In a statement, the government says he was interviewed by authorities with his mother present, and that he received tutoring during his time in custody.
Hassan's father says his son was missed by many of the local children and his teachers.
Young Ali's case comes in the wake of months of protests against the government.
Deborah Gembara, Reuters
At his family's house outside of Manama, Ali Hassan and his father say they're perplexed by the court's decision. Under the ruling, he won't have to return to government custody, but will have to be monitored for at least a year.
SOUNDBITE: Ali Hassan saying:
"I am a small boy. Why would they still keep me under observation for one year?"
Hassan remembers the day authorities approached him.
SOUNDBITE: Ali Hassan saying:
"We were playing football and the ball went on the other side, where the roads were blocked. While I went to get the ball, there was a private car that came towards me and a person came out running after me. As I tried to run, the person got hold of me."
All of this happened the day after Hassan participated in helping to block a road.
He spent nearly a month at a juvenile detention center. In a statement, the government says he was interviewed by authorities with his mother present, and that he received tutoring during his time in custody.
Hassan's father says his son was missed by many of the local children and his teachers.
Young Ali's case comes in the wake of months of protests against the government.
Deborah Gembara, Reuters