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BAHRAIN: Academic, activist and blogger Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace’s health deteriorates
PEN International WiPC | 29 October 2012 RAN 46/10 - Update #6
PEN International is seriously concerned for the health of prominent academic, activist and blogger Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace, who is said to be very weak as a result of a hunger strike protesting poor conditions in the prison where he is held. He is serving a life sentence for his peaceful opposition activities. PEN International is calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace and all those detained in Bahrain in violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Bahrain is a signatory. It also demands that Al-Singace be granted access to his family and legal counsel, and that that his reports of ill-treatment in Jaw prison are fully investigated.
According to PEN’s information, on 13 October 2012 Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace started a hunger strike to protest the ill-treatment of prisoners in Jaw prison, particularly political prisoners, who are said to be subject to relentless physical and psychological ill-treatment, including lack of medical care and solitary confinement. Al-Singace has reportedly written a letter to the Bahraini authorities denouncing these practices.. His health is quickly deteriorating as a result of his hunger strike and there are serious concerns for his welfare.
Blogger and human rights activist Al-Singace was sentenced by a special security court in June 2011 to life imprisonment for his advocacy for political reform and protests against human rights abuses; the verdict was confirmed by the appeal court on 4 September 2012. He was sentenced together with another twelve activists, including human rights defender and blogger Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja.
For more information on Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace, please read PEN’s most recent alert on his case and the letter sent by the Chair of the Writers in Prison Committee of PEN International to Hillary Clinton expressing grave concern over the human rights situation in Bahrain.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Please send appeals:
- Expressing serious concerns for the safety of academic, activists and blogger Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace, whose health is rapidly deteriorating as a result of a hunger strike;
- Demanding a full investigation into reports that Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace and others are being ill-treated in prison;
- Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace and all those detained in Bahrain in violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Bahrain is a signatory.
Send appeals to:
His Majesty Sheikh Hamad bin Issa Al-Khalifa
King of Bahrain
Office of His Majesty the King
P.O.Box 555
Rifa’a Palace
Kingdom of Bahrain.
Fax: +973 176 64 587
Sheikh Khalid bin Ali Al-Khalifa
Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs
Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs
P.O.Box 450
Al-Manama
Bahrain.
Fax: +973 175 31 284
Dr. Salah Ali Abdulrahman
Minister of Human Rights and Social Development,
Ministry of Human Rights and Development
Manama
Kingdom of Bahrain
Please copy appeals to the diplomatic representative for Bahrain in your country if possible.
***Please contact this office if sending appeals after 30 November 2012***
For further information please contact Cathy McCann at International PEN Writers in Prison Committee, Brownlow House, 50/51 High Holborn, London WC1V 6ER, Tel.+ 44 (0) 20 7405 0338, Fax: +44 (0) 20 7405 0339, email: cathy.mccann@pen-international.org
Ghias Aljundi
Middle East Research and Development Officer
Writers in Prison Committee
PEN International
Brownlow House
50/51 High Holborn
London WC1V 6ER
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7405 0338
Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7405 0339
ghias.aljundi@pen-international.org
International PEN is a UK Registered Charity No. 1117088 and a Company Registered in England No. 05683997, Registered Office: Brownlow House, 50/51High Holborn, London WC1V www.pen-international.org
