An appeal hearing on January 7, 2013 in the case of engineer and human rights activist Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace would give Bahraini authorities a chance to reverse a life sentence that is based solely on his expression of opinion, according to CCS and other human rights groups that have been advocating for Al-Singace since his arrest in 2011.
December 19, 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: +973-1-753-6343Your 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 publicly on Bahrain’s human rights situation. We are writing to you now because we understand that there will be a hearing on Dr. Al-Singace’s sentence before the Court of Appeals on January 7, 2013.
We wrote previously to Bahraini authorities 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 — and continue to be — 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 paralyzed.
We urge you to ensure that the appeal process be conducted in an open manner consistent with internationally recognized standards of due process and that any charges, convictions or sentences against Dr. Al-Singace that are related to his peaceful exercise of his human rights be lifted. We fully support the statement of Assistant Secretary Michael Posner, made in Congressional testimony on August 1, 2012, as follows: “We urge the Government of Bahrain to ensure fair and expeditious trials in appeals cases and to drop charges against all persons accused of offenses involving political expression and freedom of assembly.”
We appreciate your immediate attention to this important matter and look forward to your earliest reply.
Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely yours,
Sincerely yours,
Eugene Chudnovsky
Alexander Greer
Joel Lebowitz
Walter Reich
Paul PlotzCo-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists
Copies To:
His Excellency Ali Bin Fadhi al-Bouainain
Atttorney General of the Kingdom of Bahrain
Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs, Diplomatic Area
Manama, PO Box 450
Kingdom of BahrainHis Excellency Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa
Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs
Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs, Diplomatic Area
PO Box 450, Manama, Kingdom of BahrainLieutenant General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa
Minister of Interior of the Kingdom of Bahrain
Ministry of Interior,
Diplomatic Area, Manama, PO Box 13
Kingdom of BahrainAmbassador Houda Ezra Ebrahim Nonoo
Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain
3502 International Drive NW
Washington, DC 20008
Fax: 1-202-362-2192Assistant Secretary Jeffrey Feltman
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520 USAAssistant Secretary Michael Posner
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520 USAHis 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
Our Previous Activities
An archive of our activities on behalf of Professor Al-Singace