Committee of Concerned Scientists

An international non-profit organization of scientists, physicians, engineers and scholars dedicated to protecting the human rights and scientific freedom of our colleagues around the world.

An independent non-profit organization of scientists, physicians, engineers and scholars dedicated to protecting the human rights and scientific freedom of our colleagues around the world.

Dr. Abdul Jalil al-Singace In Need of Medical Care

Dr. al-Singace, formerly the head of the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Bahrain is now serving a life sentence for his political and human rights activism. He is in need of medical care.

CCS has requested that the authorities in Bahrain assure that such is provided to him.

February 7, 2017

Shaikh Hamad bin ‘Issa Al Khalifa
Office of His Majesty the King
P.O. Box 555
Rifa’a Palace, al-Manama
Bahrain
Fax: +973-1766-4587

Your Majesty:

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 write today to express our concerns for Dr. Abdul Jalil al-Singace. Dr. al-Singace, who had been the head of the department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bahrain, is serving a life sentence in Jau Prison for his political and human rights activism.

While we are concerned that Dr. al-Singace has been sentenced for peacefully exercising his rights to freedom of expression and association, our immediate concern is for his physical health. Dr. al-Singace suffers from Polio, which manifests itself in heart, sinus, and eye problems. His prolonged detention, combined with harsh treatment that has reportedly included repeated torture, has exacerbated this condition. Additionally, we have learned that he may have sickle cell disease, musculoskeletal problems and ruptured ear drums.

We have received reports that he needs to see a hematologist because his blood count is low, and that he has been denied access to visits from family and friends.
It is urgent and imperative that you take all actions necessary to stabilize the deteriorating health of Dr. al-Singace, and that he be allowed all medical treatments necessary to do so. It is also vital that he be allowed visits from family and friends, and that any illegal ill-treatment or torture that is taking place cease at once. We ask, further, that his case be addressed in a manner consistent with internationally recognized standards of due process, fair trial and detention, in accordance with Bahrain’s obligations under International Law.

Thank you for your attention to this most serious matter, and we look forward to receiving your response.

Sincerely,

Joel L. Lebowitz, Paul H. Plotz, Walter Reich,
Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander Greer

Co-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists

Copies to:

Ambassador H.E Shaikh Abdulla Mohamed Al-Khalifa
Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain
3502 International Drive NW
Washington, DC 20008
Phone: 1-202-342-1111 I Fax: 1-202-362-2192
Email: ambsecretary@bahrainembassy.org

Take Action: Write a Letter
  • Ensure Dr. Al-Singace’s right to medical care and family visits (Scholars At Risk)

Who We Are

Co-chairs

Joel L. Lebowitz, Rutgers University

Walter Reich, George Washington University

Eugene Chudnovsky, Lehman College

Alexander Greer, Brooklyn College

Vice-chairs

Biology – Max E. Gottesman, Columbia University

Chemistry – Zafra Lerman, MIMSAD Inc.

Computer Science – Rachelle Heller, The George Washington University

Engineering – Philip Sarachik, NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering

Computer Science – Jack Minker, University of Maryland, College Park

Mathematics – Simon Levin, Princeton University

Honorary Board Members

Nancy Andrews, Duke University

Myles Axton, Chief Editor, Genetics and Genomics Next

David Baltimore, California Institute of Technology*

Alan J. Bard, University of Texas

David Gross, University of California, Santa Barbara*

James Langer, University of California, Santa Barbara

Peter Lax, New York University

Giorgio Parisi, Roma I University La Sapienza

John C. Polanyi, University of Toronto*

Stuart Rice, University of Chicago

Sir Richard J. Roberts, New England Biolabs*

Maxine Singer, Carnegie Institution of Washington

Alfred I. Tauber, Boston University

Myrna Weissman, Columbia University

Former Honorary Board Members

Jacob Bigeleisen (deceased), SUNY, Stony Brook

Raoul Bott (deseased) Harvard University

Owen Chamberlain (deceased), University of California, Berkeley

Stanley Deser (deceased), Brandeis University

Edward Gerjuoy (deceased), University of Pittsburgh

Pierre Hohenberg (deceased), New York University

Walter Kohn (deceased), University of California, Santa Barbara*

Louis Nirenberg (deceased), New York University

Marshall Nirenberg (deceased), National Institutes of Health*

Myriam Sarachick (deceased), City College of New York

Harold Scheraga (deceased), Cornell University

Sylvan Schweber (deceased), Brandeis University

Steven Weinberg (deceased), University of Texas, Austin*

Rosalyn S. Yalow (deceased), Mount Sinai School of Medicine*

* Nobel laureate

Committee of Concerned Scientists

c/o Alexandra R. Bender, Executive Director
P.O. Box 273
Mountainhome, PA 18342
abender@concernedscientists.org