Ayat Al-Qurmezi

Ayat Hassan Mohammed Al-Qurmezi (; also Al-Qormezi, al-Ghermezi; born 1 January 1991) is a poet and student at the University of Bahrain Teaching Institute in Bahrain.

Al-Qurmezi became famous in Bahrain and internationally after reading out a poem criticising Bahraini government policies to the Pearl Roundabout gathering of pro-democracy protesters. After the poem was widely circulated via social media she and her family were subjected to harassment and death threats (both online and offline).

She was arrested and detained in conditions of secrecy, and rumours of her death in custody led to protests by Iranian activists. She was subjected to torture while in custody but was eventually tried on charges of inciting hatred of the Bahraini regime and insulting members of the royal family. International human rights organisations described her detention and trial as illustrating the brutality of the Bahraini authorities.

The student quickly rose to fame through the media channels of YouTube, Twitter and through BlackBerry Messenger as her poem was spread throughout Bahrain and the rest of the world. Since then, Ayat has been exposed to several forms of harassment and death threats that included herself and her family. Her personal information has been published through emails and Blackberry messages. She has reportedly received numerous phone calls threatening her life and safety.

English PEN, reminding the Bahraini authorities of their obligations to protect the right to freedom of expression guaranteed by Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Bahrain is an official state party, called for Ayat's immediate and unconditional release. Supporters circulated petitions and called for the release of the "Freedom Poet" through blogs and social media. The Ayat Al-Qurmezi was intercepted and turned back by the Bahraini navy.

The Bahraini authorities defended the decision to detain and prosecute Ayat Al-Qurmezi on the grounds that her poem had called for "uprising and hatred against the leadership" and in Bahrain that was illegal. Throughout this time the police made no attempt to carry out any genuine interrogation. However, as of October 2011 her sentence had not been revoked, and she remained under house arrest. Her family feared she may be recalled to prison at any time. She had not received an official pardon, and her conviction had not been overturned on appeal.