Calls to release Bahrain HRDs, Turkey criticised on Khashoggi killers case
The Dublin-based human rights NGO, Front Line Defenders has called for the release of Abdul-Hadi AlKhawaja to Ireland on medical grounds”. They based their call on the expert opinion of Prof. Damian McCormack, BSc, Mch, FRCS (Orth.). Al-Khawaja is a former employee who is serving a life sentence in Bahrain for his role in the peaceful pro-democracy uprising of 2011. Amnesty International said his conviction was based on a confession made under duress, and no evidence was presented showing he had used or advocated violence during the protests. In 2012, then-minister for foreign affairs Eamon Gilmore criticised the upholding of the life sentence, saying his initial trial did not meet international standards. Mr Al-Khawaja has received numerous awards for his human rights work in Bahrain.
UN experts have raised concerns over the “deteriorating” health of a Bahraini academic on hunger strike. Abduljalil Al-Singace, director and spokesperson of the Human Rights Bureau of the Haq Movement for Civil Liberties and Democracy, has been in jail since 2011, when he was sentenced to life in prison on false charges, together with other prominent figures. According to a communication sent by three special rapporteurs to the Bahraini government, his health has severely worsened during his hunger strike, entering its 10th month. “We wish to urgently renew and underscore our serious concerns relating to the health of Mr Singace and the confiscation of his research materials, and express fresh concern as to the alleged suspension of his video calls with his family,” wrote the rapporteurs. “In expressing these concerns, we wish to reiterate our strong belief, as previously communicated to your Excellency’s Government, that the sentence under which Mr Singace remains detained is based solely on his legitimate, peaceful advocacy for the respect and protection of human rights in Bahrain.”
The family of native Bahraini political prisoner Abdul Aziz Abdul Redha Isa, who had been sentenced to life in prison has called on the khalifi jailers to take immediate action regarding their son’s deteriorating health condition. He has been suffering from severe pain in the lower abdomen for two months but has received no proper treatment.
A political prisoner has started hunger strike at the notorious Jau Prison. Mansoor Khalaf has stopped eating food or taking medicine in protest at the ill-treatment he has been receiving at the hands of the khalifi torturers and his transfer to solitary confinement. Another political prisoner, Hussain Al-Sahlawi whose deteriorating health has been repeatedly reported is still complaining of lack of medical care. He has continuously called for treatment but to no avail. In addition to several ailments, he was riddled with coronavirus that has turned into long Covid.
On the eleventh anniversary of the torture to death of several Bahraini detainees the human rights world has reacted angrily to the policy of impunity that the regime has adopted to protect the torturers. On 11th April, the family of Karim Fakhrawi remembered their shocking experience with his mutilated body days after he had been detained by the khalifi torturers earlier that month in 2011. So were the families of Zakariya al-Ashiri and Ali Saqr who succumbed to their horrific torture wounds on 9th April. They were followed by Hassan Jassim Makki whose body was seriously abused by the torturers. After 11 years the fact remains that dictators cannot be reformed.
Saudi Arabia is sending Uyghur woman Hadiche and her 13-year old daughter to Riyadh, where they’d be deported to China, and where they will face torture and arbitrary detention. They are the wife and daughter of Nurmemet Rozi who will also be deported. Michael Page, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch said: “Deporting these people to places where they would face arbitrary detention, torture, or worse, risks further tarnishing Saudi Arabia’s global human rights image.”
Sarah Leah Whitson, the Director of Middle East and North Africa division at Human Rights Watch has tweeted on the strong links between the Saudis and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former US president, Donald Trump. She said: Leak of key documents reveal that the board of Saudi sovereign fund rejected investment in Kushner’s project – at $2b Saudi makes up the bulk of 2.5 money raised. She added: Before Giving Billions to Jared Kushner, Saudi Investment Fund Had Big Doubts. Weeks before it committed $2 billion to Mr. Kushner’s firm, Public Investment Fund officials questioned the justification for taking such a big risk.
On 7 April 2022, a Turkish court issued a ruling to suspend the trial of 26 people accused over the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and transfer the case to Saudi Arabia. The sudden decision led to an outburst of anger and disappointment among those who were seeking justice for the victim. The judge told the court: “We decided to halt and hand over the case to Saudi Arabia.” Milena Buyum, of Amnesty International, tweeted: “Appalling and clearly political decision.” His fiancee Hatice Cengiz vowed to “continue to fight. Whoever gives up has given up. I will continue.”
Bahrain Freedom Movement
13th April 2022
