Professor Abdul Jail Al-Singace, a scholar of mechanical engineering at the University of Bahrain and Director of the Human Rights Bureau of the Haq Movement for Civil Liberties and Democracy, an opposition political movement, was sentenced to life in prison in 2011 because of his reporting on human rights abuses in Bahrain. The government is hearing his appeal on April 30.
CCS has written two letters to the government of Bahrain regarding Dr. Al-Singace’s case. We wrote another letter to the prime minister on April 29, urging him to ensure that the appeals process is conducted fairly — according to Bahrain’s obligations under international law.
Read our letter:
OUR PREVIOUS ACTIVITIES
April 29, 2012
His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa
Prime Minister
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
P.O. Box 547, Government Road
Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain
Fax: +973-1-753-6343
Your Excellency:
We are an independent organization of scientists, physicians, engineers and scholars devoted to the protection and advancement of human rights and scientific freedom for colleagues all over the world. We are writing you now in concern for Professor Abdul Jail Al-Singace.
Professor Al-Singace is a scholar of mechanical engineering who has worked at the University of Bahrain since 1995. Apparently, on June 22, 2011, Dr. Al-Singace was sentenced to life in prison on allegations stemming from his reporting on Bahrain’s human rights situation.
We wrote to you on September 10, 2010, and again on March 24, 2011, because we were informed that Dr. Al-Singace’s arrest and subsequent sentencing to life in prison were due to his peaceful exercise of his fundamental rights protected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Bahrain has acceded. Furthermore, we were concerned that he was being held without regular access to legal representation, his family or medical care, which is especially important because Dr. Al-Singace is partially paralysed.
We are writing you now because we understand that there will be a hearing on Dr. Al-Singace’s appeal before the Court of Cassation on April 30, 2012. We urge you to ensure that the appeal process will be conducted in a manner consistent with internationally recognized standards of due process, fair trial and detention, in accordance with Bahrain’s obligations under international law, and that any charges, convictions or sentences against Dr. Al-Singace related to his peaceful exercise of protecting human rights be lifted. Furthermore, we reiterate our earlier requests that you ensure Dr. Al-Singace’s well being pending his earliest release, including ensuring regular access to legal counsel of his choosing, to his family and to medical treatment.
We appreciate your immediate attention to this important matter and look forward to your earliest reply as we continue to monitor Dr. Al-Singace’s case.
Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely yours,
Eugene ChudnovskyAlexander Greer
Joel Lebowitz
Walter Reich
Paul Plotz
Co-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists
Copies To:
Ambassador Houda Ezra Ebrahim Nonoo
Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain
3502 International Drive NW
Washington, DC 20008
Fax: 1-202-362-2192
His Excellency Dr. Majid Bin Ali Al Nuaimi
Minister of Education
Ministry of Education Building
Al Istiklal Street
P.O. Box 43
Isa City, Kingdom of Bahrain
Assistant Secretary Jeffrey Feltman
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520 USA
Assistant Secretary Michael Posner
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520 USA
His Excellency Thomas C. Krajeski
Ambassador of the United States to the Kingdom of Bahrain
Embassy of the United States of America
Bldg 979, Road 3119, Block 331, Zinj
Kingdom of Bahrain
Via email to: ambsecretary@bahrainembassy.org
Fax: +973 1727-0547