Abdul al-Singace, a significantly handicapped professor of engineering, was arrested in 2010 and then again in 2011, in Bahrain. He was charged with plotting to topple the government. Since his conviction and life sentence, he has been tortured mentally and psychologically.
Article links with references:
- Committee on Academic Freedom
- The New York Times
- Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain
- Ground Report India
September 28, 2021
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 around the world.
We are writing to you about an urgent matter concerning the critically poor health and extreme psychological distress of a prisoner: the former professor of engineering at the University of Bahrain, Abduljalil Abdulla al-Singace. Upon his return from a visit to the House of Lords in England in 2010, Dr. Al-Singace was arrested in Bahrain International Airport. He was freed in February, 2011 only to be re-arrested a month later. Based primarily on articles that expressed his opinions on democracy, he was severely assaulted, humiliated in public, and then convicted of plotting to “topple the government.” He was sentenced to life imprisonment. It is important to note here that Dr. Al-Singace suffers from post-polio syndrome, the symptoms of which have been exploited in the torture that he has regularly experienced in prison.
Ten years later, the imprisoned scientist and human rights activist has been assaulted mentally and physically once more by the commanding officer, among others. In response to this torture and concurrent confiscation of his scientific research, Dr. Al-Singace began a hunger strike on July 8, 2021. His health, which was compromised by physical handicap to begin with, has been very rapidly deteriorating since then. No effort has been made to provide Al-Singace with appropriate crutches and other equipment to prevent falls, nor has any significant medical treatment been provided to him in general, for more than a year.
It is the position of this committee that Dr. Abdul al-Singace should be released from prison immediately, as he poses no security threat. Remaining in prison constitutes a grave threat to Dr. Al-Singace’s life.
Sincerely,
Cc:
Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa
General and Ministry of Interior
P.O. Box 13, al-Manama, Bahrain
Fax: +973 1723 2661
Email: info@interior.gov.bh
Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa
Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs
P. O. Box 450, al-Manama, Bahrain
Fax: +973 1753 1284
Antony J. Blinken
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520 USA
Phone: 1 (202) 647-4000
Twitter: @ABlinken
Shaikh Abdullah bin Rashid Al Khalifa
H.E. Ambassador
Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain
3502 International Drive, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Fax: 1 202 362 2192
Email: ambsecretary@bahrainembassy.org
Maggie Nardi
Chargé d’Affaires
U.S. Embassy Manama
Building 979, Road 3119, Block 331,
Zinj
P.O. Box 26431
Manama – Kingdom of Bahrain
Tel: (+973) 17 242700
Fax: (+973) 17 272594