On Bahrain’s National Day, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) reiterates its longstanding call for the immediate and unconditional release of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, a Danish and Bahraini human rights defender, former president of BCHR, and a symbol of peaceful resistance in Bahrain. His continued detention, alongside his grave health conditions and experiences of torture, has drawn widespread international condemnation. This appeal highlights the circumstances surrounding his arrest, the torture he endured, his ongoing illness, and the international community’s continued calls for justice.
Arrest and Sentencing of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja
Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, one of the founders of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), was arrested on April 9, 2011, during a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Bahrain. These protests were part of the wider Arab Spring movement and called for greater political freedoms, an end to corruption, and an end to systemic discrimination faced by Bahrain’s Shia majority. Al-Khawaja, a key figure in Bahrain’s human rights movement, was at the forefront of these calls. His leadership of BCHR and his advocacy for peaceful reforms made him a prime target for the government’s repression.
After his arrest, Al-Khawaja was subjected to a grossly unfair trial along with other human rights defenders, political activists, and opposition figures. The trial, which took place in 2011, was held in a military court and widely criticized for its lack of transparency and violation of international fair trial standards. The charges against him included “attempting to overthrow the government” and “plotting against the regime”, accusations that were solely based on his peaceful activism, calls for political reform, and criticisms of the government’s human rights abuses. Despite the absence of credible evidence, Al-Khawaja was sentenced to life imprisonment.
The court proceedings were deeply flawed: the trial was held in secret, defense lawyers were denied adequate access to their clients, and defense witnesses were not allowed to testify. Al-Khawaja’s conviction is widely regarded as politically motivated, a means of silencing one of Bahrain’s most prominent voices for democracy and human rights.
Torture and Abuse in Detention
Al-Khawaja’s detention has been marked by severe physical and psychological torture. He was subjected to methods such as beatings, threats of sexual violence, and prolonged solitary confinement, all of which violate international human rights standards. These abuses are part of a broader pattern of repression against political detainees in Bahrain, particularly those seen as threats to the regime’s stability.
Immediately following his arrest, Al-Khawaja was tortured. He has spoken out about being beaten and held in inhumane conditions in detention, especially during his initial days in custody. According to Al-Khawaja, he was forced to sign confessions under duress—confessions that he later declared were fabricated. He was also subjected to threats involving the rape of his daughters, a tactic often used by Bahraini authorities to break the will of activists and their families.
Al-Khawaja’s suffering was not only physical but also deeply psychological. The harassment of his family members, coupled with the physical abuse he endured, has left an indelible mark on him. His torture and mistreatment reflect the Bahraini government’s pattern of detaining and silencing those who challenge its authority.
Health Deterioration and Continued Suffering
As a result of the torture and prolonged mistreatment, Al-Khawaja’s health has deteriorated significantly. He suffers from various serious health conditions, including heart problems and extreme back pain, both linked to the physical abuse he experienced in prison. Despite these urgent medical needs, the Bahraini authorities have refused to provide him with the necessary treatment.
In 2014, Al-Khawaja went on a hunger strike to protest the denial of medical care and the continued repression of human rights defenders in Bahrain. His health worsened significantly during the strike, and it was only after intense international pressure that he was moved to a hospital. However, his treatment remains inadequate, and his condition continues to deteriorate. His family has expressed deep concern for his life, particularly given the lack of appropriate medical facilities within Bahrain’s prison system.
Al-Khawaja’s health crisis underscores the Bahraini government’s failure to uphold its obligations under international human rights law, which guarantees access to medical care and prohibits torture and inhuman treatment.
International Calls for His Release
The case of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja has garnered significant international attention. Numerous governments, human rights organizations, and international bodies have called for his immediate release. These include:
- Denmark, Al-Khawaja’s country of citizenship, has consistently demanded his release, with Danish officials regularly urging Bahrain to honor its human rights obligations and free Al-Khawaja.
- Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have classified Al-Khawaja as a prisoner of conscience, imprisoned solely for his peaceful activism and advocacy for democratic reform.
- United Nations Special Rapporteurs have repeatedly expressed concern over his torture and detention, calling for Bahrain to comply with its international human rights commitments.
The international community has made it clear that Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja’s imprisonment is unjust and that Bahrain must release him immediately, along with other political prisoners.
A Message from Nedal Al-Salman, BCHR Director and FIDH Vice President
“The case of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja is a stark reminder of the repression faced by those who dare to speak out for freedom, democracy, and human rights in Bahrain. Abdulhadi, one of the founders of BCHR, has now spent over 5000 days in jail for nothing more than advocating for the rights of his fellow citizens. His continued imprisonment is not only an affront to his dignity but to the core values of justice and humanity. BCHR will continue to call for his release until this grave injustice is righted.”
Al-Khawaja has now spent over 5000 days in prison. His prolonged detention is a testament to the unyielding nature of Bahrain’s crackdown on human rights defenders and political dissidents. His imprisonment has not silenced him; rather, it has amplified his message, with the calls for his release growing louder each day.
BCHR’s Call for Justice
On Bahrain’s National Day, BCHR renews its call for the immediate and unconditional release of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja and all other political prisoners unjustly detained. BCHR also demands that the Bahraini authorities:
- End the practice of torture and ill-treatment of detainees.
- Guarantee the right to fair trials and release those imprisoned for their activism.
- Ensure access to adequate healthcare for prisoners, particularly for those suffering from long-term effects of torture.
BCHR’s call is in line with the wider global demand for justice in Bahrain. The immediate release of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja would not only be a victory for human rights but would send a powerful message that the international community will not tolerate the abuse of peaceful activists.
Bahrain’s National Day serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for freedom, justice, and human rights. BCHR urges the government to take decisive steps toward respecting the fundamental rights of its citizens, including the release of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, who has spent over 5000 days behind bars for demanding justice and freedom for all Bahrainis.