Petition: Bahraini activist faces life in prison or death from hunger strike-Frontline Defenders
April 13, 2012
Petition for human rights defender facing life in prison
Frontline Defenders: April 4, 2012
Free Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja JOIN THE CAMPAIGN
Dear friends and colleagues,
A former colleague of mine and staff of Front Line Defenders, Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, is facing a life imprisonment in Bahrain for leading a peaceful demonstration last year. He has been severely tortued while he was arrested, including sexual assault by the prison guards.
He is currently on an indefinite hunger strike, currently into his 52 days. We are collecting a petition to be submitted to King of Bahrain calling for him to be release and to receive urgent treatment. This will be submitted through the Bahraini embassy some time next week.
If you are interested to join this cause, please send your name and your affiliation to pokpong@frontlinedefenders.org by Mon 9 April.
The information about Abdulhadi and his arrest can be found at: http://www.bahrainhrd.org/act_now.html
HM King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa
Office of The King
The Amiri Court, Rifa’a Palace
PO Box 555
Manama
Bahrain
Your Highness:
I am writing to express my deep concern for the health and welfare of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, who is a prisoner at the Jaw Prison in Bahrain. He has been on hunger strike since the night of February 8/9 and his health is deteriorating.
I know that the Foreign Minister of Denmark has made the specific request for Abdulhadi to be released to Denmark on humanitarian grounds, so that he can receive treatment both for the effects of the hunger strike and the ongoing pain he suffers as a result of the torture he suffered during his detention (BICI report, Annex B, Case #8).
Abdulhadi is well known as a human rights defender, and his work to support other human rights activists and victims of abuse is highly respected around the world. His conviction in a Bahraini court has been deemed unfair by the panel you empowered to review the cases that were brought before the National Safety Court.
Your Majesty, you are in the unique position of having this man’s life in your hands. I urge you to show mercy and grant his release from prison so that he may go to Denmark for urgent treatment.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
—
Pokpong Lawansiri, Protection Coordinator for Asia, Front Line Defenders
109 Soi Sittichon, Sutthisarn Rd, Huaykwang, Bangkok 10310
Tel: +66 (0) 2 275 4231, Mobile: +66 (0) 84 388 8110
Fax: +66 (0) 2 275 4230
Website: www.frontlinedefenders.org
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/yw4BXi
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Free Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja
JOIN THE CAMPAIGN
