AAAS Science and Human Rights Program receives request for AAAS Action Alert from Scholars at Risk (SAR)

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The AAAS Science and Human Rights  Program has received a request from  Scholars at Risk (SAR) to publish  the following case through the AAAS Action  Alert system.  The Alert  will be posted on the AAAS Science and Human Rights  Program wesbite,  sent out via our listserv and included in the forthcoming  Science and  Human Rights Program newsletter.

Original information from SAR  follows:  

Call  for Urgent Action for  Detained Mechanical Engineering Professor Abdul  Jalil Al-Singace of  Bahrain

August  27,  2010

Scholars at Risk  (SAR) is  gravely concerned about the arrest and detention of Professor Abdul   Jalil Al-Singace, a mechanical engineer at University of Bahrain in Isa  Town.   SAR asks for letters, faxes and emails urging authorities to  explain publicly  the reasons for Prof. Al-Singace's detention, disclose  the whereabouts of Prof.  Al-Singace and ensure his access to medical  care, family and legal counsel.

Scholars at Risk  is an international network of  universities and colleges dedicated to promoting  academic freedom and  to defending the human rights of scholars worldwide.   Scholars at Risk  invites interventions on behalf of scholars suffering the most  serious  threats to their academic freedom or their exercise of their  fundamental  human rights including, as in this case, detention without  charge and  incarceration in an undisclosed location.

Professor  Al-Singace is a scholar of mechanical  engineering who has worked at University  of Bahrain since 1995.  He is  also the Director of the Human Rights Bureau of  the Haq Movement for  Civil Liberties and Democracy, an opposition political  movement.   Scholars at Risk has learned that Professor Al-Singace was arrested  on  August 13, 2010 at Bahrain International Airport, upon his return from  the  United Kingdom, and taken to an undisclosed location.  This  followed his address  on August 5 to the British House of Lords during  which he reported on Bahrain's  human rights situation.  Reports also  indicate that Professor Al-Singace has not  been permitted regular  visits with his family or lawyer; indeed we understand  that his lawyer  was able to see him for the first time only recently.  Although   Bahraini law dictates that detainees are brought before the public  prosecutor or  formally charged with an offense within 48 hours,  Professor Al-Singace has yet  to be formally charged.  Furthermore,  Scholars at Risk understands that  Professor Al-Singace suffers from  poliomyelitis.  In light of this, his  prolonged detention without  regular access to counsel, family or adequate  medical support would  appear to constitute a reckless disregard of his health  and well-being.

This disregard,  coupled with the  suddenness and lack of any clear basis for his arrest, raises  concerns  that this case appears to involve retaliation against one scholar's   peaceful exercise of fundamental rights, which are guaranteed under the   Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 19 of the United  Nations  International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which  Bahrain is a  party.

Scholars at Risk   therefore joins with the many national and international academic  associations,  human rights organizations and individual scholars that  respectfully urge that  the government of Bahrain examine the  circumstances of Professor Al-Singace's  detention and to disclose his  location.  SAR urges authorities to intervene to  ensure his well-being  including ensuring immediate and regular access to legal  counsel of his  choosing, to family and to any necessary medical treatment.   Given the  public reports surrounding Professor Al-Singace's detention, we   further urge you to explain publicly the reasons for his detention or  absent  this, to arrange for his earliest release.

Scholars at Risk  invites letters, emails and faxes  be sent:

-respectfully  calling on the  authorities to examine the circumstances of Professor  Al-Singace's  detention and to disclose his location;

-respectfully  calling on authorities to intervene to  ensure his well-being including ensuring  immediate and regular access  to legal counsel of his choosing, to family and to  any necessary  medical treatment; and

-given the  public  reports surrounding Professor Al-Singace's detention, respectfully  urging  authorities to explain publicly the reasons for his detention or  absent this, to  arrange for his earliest release.

PLEASE WRITE  TO:

His Highness  Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa

Prime  Minister

Ministry of   Foreign Affairs

P.O. Box  547

Government  Road

Manama

Kingdom of  Bahrain

Fax: +973   17536343

info@mofa.gov.bh

His Majesty  Shaikh Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa

King of  Bahrain

Office of  His  Majesty the King

P. O. Box  555

Rifa'a Palace,  Kingdom of Bahrain

Fax: + 973  17668884

Her Excellency  Ms. Houda Ezra Ebrahim Nonoo

Ambassador of  Bahrain to the United States

Embassy of the  Kingdom of Bahrain

3502  International Drive NW

Washington,  DC  20008  USA

Fax: +1 202  362-2192

COPIES  TO:

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

Fax: +973  1768  7866

Email: moe.relations@bahrain.gov.bh

The Honorable  Hillary R. Clinton

United States  Secretary of State

U.S. Department  of State

2201  C Street  NW

Washington, DC   20520  USA

His Excellency  J. Adam Ereli

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

Fax: +973 1727  0547

Scholars at Risk

New York   University

194 Mercer St.,  4th floor

New York, NY  10012  USA

Fax:  +1 212  995-4402

scholarsatrisk@nyu.edu

To view a copy  of SAR's letter of  appeal, please visit our website: www.scholarsatrisk.org.