Khalil al-Halwachi, a Bahrainian professor arrested in 2014, is scheduled to have a hearing today, after having it postponed for the 20th time. CCS has requested that a representative of the U.S. Embassy be present to observe the trial and assure that he is granted due process and a proper trial.
December 27, 2016
Ambassador William Roebuck
United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain
U.S. Embassy – Manama
Building 979, Road 331, Zinj
PO Box 26431
Manama – Kingdom of BahrainDear Ambassador Roebuck:
The Committee of Concerned Scientists is 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 again writing out of concern for Khalil al-Halwachi, a 59-year old Bahraini electrical engineer and academic instructor who has been in prison since his arrest in early September, 2014. We initially wrote you on September 30, 2016 requesting that you send a representative of the United States embassy to Mr. al-Halwachi’s court hearing scheduled for October 20th. That hearing was postponed and reset for October 31st. That hearing, too, was rescheduled for this coming Thursday, December 29th (he has been subjected to 20 hearing cancellations). We are, now, writing to remind you of this hearing date; and again, requesting that you send a representative of the U.S. embassy to Mr. al-Halwachi’s court hearing to assure due process – that he have an attorney present, that he be able to meet with his attorney in advance, that he and the attorney be present together in the courtroom and that the hearing be completed fairly. Should this not happen we would request a statement to that effect be made by the Embassy.
Although he was arrested over two years ago, hearings in his case have repeatedly been delayed, and he remains imprisoned in Dry Dock Detention Center, in conditions reported as so harsh that he and others have gone on hunger strikes in protest.
If we can provide you further information, please let us know and we will do what we can to assist.
Sincerely,
Joel L. Lebowitz, Paul H. Plotz, Walter Reich,
Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander GreerCo-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists
Related articles
- Bahrain: Justice denied for two years as Khalil Al-Halwachi is imprisoned without a verdict (bahrainrights.org)
- Khalil Halwachi is arrested in Bahrain (the-levant.com)