Daughter of long-detained activist in Bahrain blocked from traveling to island kingdom on Friday

By JON GAMBRELL
Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A daughter of a long-detained human rights activist in Bahrain tried to return to the island kingdom to press for the release of her father but was turned away from her flight in London. Maryam al-Khawaja was accompanied Friday by a phalanx of other activists including the secretary-general of Amnesty International, Agnès Callamard, seeking to prevent authorities from immediately detaining her. But before she could board her British Airways flight, she said she was prevented from checking in as Bahraini immigration officials told the airline not to allow her on the plane. Bahrain did not immediately respond to a request for comment.