Bahrain Mirror (Exclusive): A group of Bahraini and International Human Rights Organizations launched a joint appeal demanding the Bahraini government to release Dr. Abduljalil al-Singace, a member of the Bahrain 13, who has been on hunger strike for more than 160 days.

Information revealed that Al-Singace was transferred again to the hospital a few days earlier after his health deteriorated.
The organizations urged the Bahraini government to release all individuals who are arbitrarily detained. They also reminded the Bahraini government of its obligations in regards of arbitrary detaining any citizen pursuant to International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Convention against Torture.

The 41 organizations pointed out that the UN Working Group on Arbitrary detention found that the use of arbitrary detention and torture is a systematic problem in the criminal justice system of Bahrain. The NGOs called on the international community, and in particular the US and the European Union, to call for Dr. al-Singace's release.

The release of the urgent appeal also coincides with a protest led by the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD), English PEN, Index on Censorship and REDRESS outside the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London, calling on the UK FCO to take action on Dr. Al-Singace's case and to put pressure on the Bahraini authorities to end human rights abuses in Bahrain and its prisons.

Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, Director of Advocacy at BIRD said: "The United Kingdom should use its leverage with Bahrain to secure Abduljalil's release and hold their ally accountable. He is a blogger, a journalist, a thinker and categorically should not be in prison."

Cat Lucas, Writers at Risk Programme Manager, English PEN: "PEN remains seriously concerned for Dr al-Singace, now on the 160th day of his hunger strike in protest at the treatment of his fellow prisoners. We continue to urge the Bahraini authorities to release Dr al-Singace and the many other writers of concern to PEN unconditionally, and to allow him access to the medical attention he requires, as well as to reading and writing materials, as a matter of urgency."

Jodie Ginsberg, CEO, Index on Censorship: "Dr al-Singace has been on hunger strike for more than five months and the UK has yet to call for his release. His arrest, sentencing and treatment in jail have received international condemnation and we call on Britain to join global counterparts in calling for Dr al-Singace's release and ensuring he receives appropriate medical assistance."

The 41 signatories are: Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB), Article 19, Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR), Bahrain Human Rights Observatory, Bahrain Human Rights Society, Bahrain Institute of Rights and Democracy (BIRD), Bahrain Press Association, Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights, Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS), CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), English Pen, European - Bahraini Organisation for Human Rights (EBOHR), Front Line Defenders, Gulf Center for Human Rights (GCHR), Index on Censorship, International Forum for Democracy and Human Rights (IFDHR), Irish Pen, Khiam Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture (KRC), Mothers Legacy Project, No Peace Without Justice, PEN Canada, Pen International, Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED), Rafto Foundation, Redress, Reporters Without Borders, Salam for Democracy and Human Rights, Sentinel HRD, Shia Rights Watch, The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), The European Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (ECDHR), The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Tunisia Initiative for Freedom of Expression, Vivarta and Wales PEN Cymru.

Arabic Issue