English PEN: Bahrain: Activist arrested; fears of ill-treatment

Published: September 8, 2010

English PEN is seriously concerned by the arrest of academic and human rights activist Dr Abdul-Jalil Alsingace, who has been held incommunicado since 13 August 2010. He is believed to be facing charges under national security and counter-terrorism laws, although it is widely believed that the charges are politically motivated and that he is targeted for his criticism of the Bahraini authorities.

Published: September 8, 2010

English PEN is seriously concerned by the arrest of academic and human rights activist Dr Abdul-Jalil Alsingace, who has been held incommunicado since 13 August 2010. He is believed to be facing charges under national security and counter-terrorism laws, although it is widely believed that the charges are politically motivated and that he is targeted for his criticism of the Bahraini authorities. His arrest appears to be part of a crackdown on Shia activists in the run up to the forthcoming parliamentary elections. English PEN is alarmed at reports that he has been ill-treated and tortured in detention. Dr Alsingace is partially paralyzed from polio and requires assistance to walk, and there are mounting concerns for his well-being in detention. English PEN urges the Bahraini authorities to abide by their obligations under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Dr Alsingace and all those currently detained in Bahrain for the peaceful expression of their opinions.

According to PEN’s information, Dr Alsingace, head of the human rights office of the Haq Movement for Liberty and Democracy, was arrested at Bahrain International Airport on his return from London on 13 August, where he had been attending a conference at the House of Lords during which he had criticised Bahrain’s human rights practices. He was initially accused of ‘inciting violence and terrorist acts’, before being formally charged under national security and counter-terrorism legislation. According to a statement by a public prosecution official, Dr Alsingace is among four leading Bahraini Shia activists to be facing charges including ‘the planning and instigation of violence, conducting a wide-ranging propaganda campaign against the Kingdom and seeking to overthrow the regime by force’. The men are believed to be currently held on a sixty day detention order, and their whereabouts remain unknown.

Background
In the run-up to the forthcoming parliamentary elections in October this year, there have been a series of violent protests in the Gulf state of Bahrain led by Bahrain’s majority Shia community, who have long complained of discrimination by the Sunni ruling elite. This has led to an unprecedented wave of repression in the country in which many have been targeted for peacefully expressing their views, including political, religious and human rights activists. Most have been released after a brief detention, but at least twenty-three have been charged and are currently still detained incommunicado.

Dr Alsingace teaches engineering at the University of Bahrain and authors his own blog (http://alsingace.blogspot.com/). He was previously detained in 2009 and held for several months on charges of plotting to overthrow the government before being given a royal pardon.

For further background go to:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11190726

http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/09/07/bahrain-halt-threats-against-rights-defenders

http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/09/01/bahrain-pursue-torture-allegations

RECOMMENDED ACTION

Please send appeals:
• Expressing serious concern about the incommunicado detention of Dr Abdul-Jalil Alsingace, and seeking details of the charges against him;
• Expressing mounting concern for his welfare, and calling for a full investigation into reports that he has been tortured and ill-treated in detention;
• Urging the Bahraini authorities to abide by their obligations under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and to immediately and unconditionally release Dr Alsingace and all others currently detained solely for the peaceful expression of their opinions.

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

Please copy appeals to the diplomatic representative for Bahrain in the UK:

30 BELGRAVE SQUARE
LONDON, SW1X 8QB
UNITED KINGDOM
TEL: (+44) 0207 201 9170
Email:info@bahrainembassy.co.uk
Web: www.bahrainembassy.co.uk

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