CCS has learned from Professor Abdul Jail Al-Singace’s family that he has been denied medical attention and family visits while serving a life sentence in prison. Al-Singace’s conviction was based on his reporting on human rights abuses in Bahrain.
Dr. Al-Singace, a professor of mechanical engineering who has taught at the University of Bahrain since 1995, is also a leader of the democratic opposition. We are particularly concerned with Dr. Al-Singace’s lack of access to medical care because he is partially paralyzed and wheelchair bound.
CCS had written numerous letters to the King of Bahrain, the Prime Minister, the Attorney General, and other government officials in protest against his conviction. He was arrested in August, 2010 upon his return from addressing the British House of Lords on Bahrain’s human rights situation.
His 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 BahrainJune 21, 2013
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 in concern for Professor Abdul Jalil Al-Singace.
Professor Al-Singace, a scholar of mechanical engineering at the University of Bahrain since 1995, 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 from Dr. Al Singace’s family that he has not had access to family visits in prison or to medical attention, in spite of his serious health problems. Dr. Al Singace is wheelchair bound. His family is extremely concerned about his inability to see a doctor.
We respectfully urge you to investigate this situation at once and to assure that Dr. Al Singace has immediate access to family visits and to appropriate medical care.
We wrote previously to Bahraini authorities because from the information that we had, it would appear that Dr. Al-Singace’s arrest and subsequent sentencing to life in prison were due to the 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. We continue to be concerned about the fairness of his sentence.
We appreciate your immediate attention to this important matter and look forward to your earliest reply.
Thank you for your attention.
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 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 USAActing Assistant Secretary Uzra Zeya
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor
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
- Bahrain Harrasses Human Rights Defenders, Exile Activist Explains in New York Address
- Professor Abdul Jalil Al-Singace
