A defense lawyer in Bahrain says the daughter of a jailed rights activist has received a two-month prison sentence for ripping a picture of the Gulf nation's king during a protest, according to The Associated Press.

The court's decision Wednesday, Sept 26, was denounced by rights groups accusing authorities of limiting free expression in crackdowns on protesters from the kingdom's Shiite majority, which is seeking a greater political voice in the Sunni-ruled nation. More than 50 people have died in unrest since February 2011.

Mohamed al-Jishi says his client Zainab al-Khawaja could be released soon based on her time held awaiting trial, but there was no immediate word from officials.

Al-Khawaja's father Abdulhadi is among eight opposition figures sentenced to life in prison. He staged a 110-day hunger strike earlier this year in protest.