Bahrain: Authorities Prevent Leading Human Rights Defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja from getting the Medical Treatment He Needs Urgently
12th November 2012
The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) and the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) are greatly concerned for the life and well-being of internationally renowned human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja. Al-Khawaja continues to have chronic pain in his face (jaw) and left arm for more than a year and a half now.
Bahrain: Authorities Prevent Leading Human Rights Defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja from getting the Medical Treatment He Needs Urgently
12th November 2012
The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) and the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) are greatly concerned for the life and well-being of internationally renowned human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja. Al-Khawaja continues to have chronic pain in his face (jaw) and left arm for more than a year and a half now. He has been told by the doctor that taking the 18 plates and 36 screws out of his face will not make any change to the chronic pain from which he suffers at the moment. In addition to that, the court continues to reject the request by his family and lawyer to get a copy of the medical report or the BICI findings related to his health, which prevents the family from seeking medical advice outside the prison.
Al-Khawaja was arrested on 9th April 2011 and has reportedly been subjected to physical, psychological and sexual torture during his detention as documented by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry. He required a 4-hour operation in a Bahraini military hospital following injuries he sustained to his head. It has been reported that Al-Khawaja’s facial bones sustained a severe blow by a member of the security apparatus which resulted in 4 fractures. The subsequent surgery required a bone graft (taken from his skull) and plates and screws for the reconstruction of his face.
According to Al-Khawaja’s family, he was only able to resist the attempt by four men to rape him by banging his already damaged head against a concrete floor. He’s referred to as "Case No. 8." in the BICI report.
The National Safety Military Court sentenced Al-Khawaja to life in prison on 22 June 2011 based on some fabricated charges that include terrorism and attempting to overthrow the regime. The military appeal court hearing on 28 September 2011 took only a few minutes before the court upheld the sentence. Furthermore, on 02 April 2012 the Court of Cessation refused his lawyer’s appeal to release him on health grounds, despite his deteriorating health condition. He entered a hunger strike that lasted 110 days from 08 February 2012 to 28 May 2012. (Read more http://bahrainrights.hopto.org/en/node/5298 )
The practice of not providing adequate health care for prisoners of conscience in Bahrain have caused complications and deterioration in the prisoners’ health conditions that lead in some cases to death. A recent example is 22 year old prisoner Mohamed Mushaima, who on 02 October 2012, died due to lack of adequate health care while in detention over false charges. (Read more http://bahrainrights.hopto.org/en/node/5449 )
The GCHR and the BCHR believe that AbdulHadi AlKhawaja has been targeted, tortured and imprisoned based solely on his life long work in human rights as a human rights defender.
The GCHR and BCHR call on the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Nations and all other ally governments and international institutions to pressure the authorities in Bahrain to:
1. Immediately and unconditionally release Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja and all human rights defenders in Bahrain including Nabeel Rajab and Sayed Yousif AlMuhafdhah as they are solely held due to their legitimate and peaceful human rights activities.
2. Immediately and unconditionally drop all charges against Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja and all other human rights defenders who have been accused of false charges.
3. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity and security of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, and all other detained human rights defenders.
4. Hold accountable those responsible for the torture of human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja and others detainees, according to the recommendations of the BICI report.
5. Ensure that all human rights defenders in Bahrain are able to carry out their human rights work without fear of reprisals and free from all restrictions including judicial harassment.
The GCHR and BCHR respectfully remind you that the United Nations Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted by consensus by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998, recognizes the legitimacy of the activities of human rights defenders, their right to freedom of association and to carry out their activities without fear of reprisals. We would particularly draw your attention to Article 1 which states that: “Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”, to article 6 ( c ) “Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to study, discuss, form and hold opinions on the observance, both in law and in practice, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and, through these and other appropriate means, to draw public attention to those matters” and to Article 12.2, which provides that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration.