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 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.

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Background Information

According to PEN’s information, on October 13, 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.

Al-Singace, a blogger and human rights activist, 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 appeals court on September 4, 2012. He was sentenced together with another 12 activists, including human rights defender and blogger Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja.

Write A Letter

  • Expressing serious concerns for the safety of academic, activist, 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 Your Letter 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
Kingdom of 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.