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AAAS Science and Human Rights Program publishes Action Alert based on information from Scholars at Risk

AAAS Science and Human Rights Program publishes Action Alert based on information from Scholars at Risk

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

Information from SAR  follows:

Scholars  at Risk Network Calls for Urgent Action for Detained Mechanical Engineering  Professor Abdul  Jalil Al-Singace of Bahrain

18 October  2010

The Scholars at  Risk Network urges action on behalf of Professor Abdul Jalil Al-Singace who has  been arrested and detained in Bahrain.

Background

Professor  Al-Singace is a scholar of mechanical engineering who has worked at the  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.  Professor Al-Singace was  arrested on August  13, 2010  at Bahrain  International  Airport,  following his address on August 5 to the British House of Lords during which he  reported on Bahrain's  human rights situation. International reports indicate that  after several weeks of Professor Al-Singace's detention in an undisclosed  location, his lawyer was finally able to meet with him.  Professor Al-Singace's  lawyer reports that Professor Al-Singace has been subjected to severe forms of  ill treatment during his detention.  The  abuse has reportedly included sleep-deprivation and severe physical beatings,  which has resulted in partial hearing loss for Professor Al-Singace.  In  addition, Professor Al-Singace's wheelchair and crutches have apparently been  taken away and detention officials have forced him to crawl back and forth to  his cell and stand for long periods of time, even though he is partially  paralyzed from poliomyelitis. Professor Al-Singace's abuse and extended  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 not only  about his situation but about the intimidation of scholars generally in  Bahrain and about the ability to conduct  world-class research, teaching and scholarship in such an environment.  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.

Take Action  Today

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

-respectfully calling on authorities  to ensure that Bahrain's obligations under international law are upheld with  regard to Professor Al-Singace;

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

-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 medical  treatment.

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 their website: www.scholarsatrisk.org

This  Action Alert was posted by the AAAS Science and Human Rights Program on behalf  of the Scholars at Risk Network. SHRP has not independently verified its  contents.