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
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
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.