Abdul Jail Al-Singace, a scholar of mechanical engineering and opposition activist in Bahrain, was sentenced to life imprisonment in June of 2011. Since his detention in 2009, CCS has been opposing his imprisonment based solely on his exercise of his human rights. Our letters also expressed concern for Al-Singace’s health because he is partially paralyzed. In anticipation of his appeal hearing, scheduled for August 14, 2012, we urge Bahraini authorities to provide him with due process and to dismiss the charges.
Read our letter:
OUR PREVIOUS ACTIVITIES
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 Bahrain
August 8, 2012
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 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 you now because we understand that there will be a hearing on Dr. Al-Singace’s appeal before the Court of Cassation on August 14, 2012.
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,
Eugene ChudnovskyAlexander Greer
Joel Lebowitz
Walter Reich
Paul Plotz
Co-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 Bahrain
Lieutenant 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 Bahrain
Ambassador Houda Ezra Ebrahim Nonoo
Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain
3502 International Drive NW
Washington, DC 20008
Fax: 1-202-362-2192
His Excellency Dr. Majid Bin Ali Al Nuaimi
Minister of Education
Ministry of Education Building
Al Istiklal Street
P.O. Box 43
Isa City, Kingdom of Bahrain
Assistant Secretary Jeffrey Feltman
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520 USA
Assistant Secretary Michael Posner
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520 USA
His 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
ambsecretary@bahrainembassy.org
Fax: +973 1727-0547