AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

AAAS Action Alerts

 

From:	Scholars at Risk Network
Re:	Reimprisoned Bahraini mechanical engineering professor Abdul Jalil Al-Singace
Date:	21 March 2011

Scholars at Risk (SAR) is gravely concerned about reports that Dr. Abdul Jalil Al-Singace, a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Bahrain, Isa Town, has been reimprisoned. SAR asks for letters, faxes and emails urging the appropriate authorities to intervene to ensure his well-being pending his earliest release, including ensuring regular access to family, to legal counsel of his choosing and to medical treatment.

Background

Scholars at Risk has received reports that Dr. Al-Singace was taken forcibly from his home on March 17th and imprisoned without charge, in apparent contravention of rights protected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Bahrain has acceded. SAR is concerned by reports during his previous detention that he was held without regular access to family and medical care--which is of particular concern given that Dr. Al-Singace is partially paralyzed from poliomyelitis.

Scholars at Risk respectfully urges authorities to ensure that Dr. Al-Singace's case is addressed quickly and in a manner consistent with internationally recognized standards of due process and fair trial, in accordance with Bahrain's obligations under international law. Furthermore, SAR respectfully urges authorities to ensure Dr. Al-Singace's well-being pending his earliest release, including ensuring regular access to his family, legal counsel of his choosing and to medical treatment.

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

-respectfully urging authorities to ensure that Dr. Al-Singace's case is addressed quickly and in a manner consistent with internationally recognized standards of due process and fair trial, in accordance with Bahrain's obligations under international law; and

-respectfully urging authorities to ensure Dr. Al-Singace's well-being pending his earliest release, including ensuring regular access to his family, legal counsel of his choosing 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

Email to: info@mofa.gov.bh
Fax to: +973 1-753-6343

COPIES TO:

The Honorable _________
Ambassador of Bahrain to [YOUR COUNTRY]
[POSTAL ADDRESS]
[FAX]
[EMAIL]

(See http://www.bahrainembassy.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=section.home&id=74 for contact information of embassies worldwide.)

The Honorable _________
Ambassador of [YOUR COUNTRY] to Bahrain
[POSTAL ADDRESS]
[FAX]
[EMAIL]

Scholars at Risk
New York University
194 Mercer Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10012 USA
Fax: +1 (212) 995-4402
scholarsatrisk@nyu.edu

To view a model letter of appeal, as well as a copy of SAR's letter, please visit: http://scholarsatrisk.nyu.edu/Education-Advocacy/Alerts-Scholars-in-Prison.php.

 

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.

From:	Scholars at Risk Network
Re:	Release of Detained Mechanical Engineering Professor Abdul Jalil Al-Singace
Date:	24 February 2010

Scholars at Risk welcomes the release of Professor Abduljalil Al-Singace from prison in Manama, Bahrain. He was one of many prisoners released on February 23rd by order of the King of Bahrain. Professor Al-Singace had been held in detention since August 2010, including a pretrial period during which he was held at an undisclosed location for 15 days without access to legal counsel or to family.

Professor Al-Singace is a mechanical engineer and professor at the University of Bahrain in Isa Town where he has worked since 1995. He is also the Director of the Human Rights Bureau of the opposition Haq Movement for Civil Liberties and Democracy.

Scholars at Risk is an international network of over 250 universities and colleges in 30 countries dedicated to promoting academic freedom and defending the human rights of scholars worldwide. Scholars at Risk was among the many human rights groups and academic associations advocating for Professor Al-Singace's release over the past several months and will continue to monitor his situation in the weeks following his release.

For information on SAR's actions on behalf of Professor Al-Singace, please visit: http://scholarsatrisk.nyu.edu/Education-Advocacy/Alerts-Scholars-in-Prison.p hp. For more information on Scholars at Risk, please visit: www.scholarsatrisk.org.

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

This information 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.

 

From:	Scholars at Risk Network
Re:	Call for Urgent Action for Detained Mechanical Engineering Professor Abdul Jalil Al-Singace
Date:	15 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.

(page updated 07/29/2008)