Joint Human Rights Statement Demands al-Khawaja Release from Bahraini Prison
In a joint statement, 45 human rights organizations, which are members of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), urged the Bahraini government to "immediately and unconditionally release from prison well-known human rights defender Abdulhadi al-Khawaja".
The statement was sent to the office of the Bahrain King Sheikh Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa, and affirmed that "al-Khawaja is a courageous defender of the people's rights in Bahraini and the Middle East and North Africa region, who is at huge risk of dying in prison, having started a hunger strike on 8 February 2012, and now suffering deteriorated health as he enters his fourth week without nourishment".
Also, the statement reminded of al-Khawaja's pledged to stay on hunger strike until "Freedom or Death".
On this level, the human rights organization's appeal described in precise the drastic health situation of al-Khawaja, stressing that "his condition is more sever, and similar to someone who has been on hunger strike for two months".
Reminding of the liability upon which the Bahraini activists was sentenced to life imprisonment along with 21 activists, including taking part in peaceful demonstrations in Bahrain, the statement added, "Human rights organizations and even the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) have said the trials did not comply with international standards of due process, nor even Bahrain's own criminal code, because the 21 men were tried under National Safety Courts".
"We believe that the evidence is clear that al-Khawaja and the other activists were sentenced in violation of their rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association, contrary to international law and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights", the human rights appeal moreover asserted.
Furthermore, the statement demanded the "immediate release of al-Khawaja, and transfer to Denmark, where he is a dual citizen, to get the urgent medical treatment he needs as a result of his lengthy hunger strike".
Also, the statement highlighted, according to the BICI and human rights organizations' documentations, that al-Khawaja is subjected to torture during his detention, which therefore played a role in his status' deterioration.
The 45 signatories of the aforementioned appeal are:
Bahrain Center for Human Rights
Adil Soz - International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech
Andean Foundation for Media Observation & Study
Arabic Network for Human Rights Information
ARTICLE 19
Association of Independent Electronic Media
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression
Cartoonists Rights Network International
Centre for Independent Journalism
Egyptian Organization for Human Rights
Freedom Forum
Globe International
Hong Kong Journalists Association
Human Rights Network for Journalists - Uganda
Human Rights Watch
Index on Censorship
Initiative for Freedom of Expression
Institute of Mass Information
Instituto Prensa y Sociedad de Venezuela
International Press Institute
Maharat Foundation (Skills Foundation)
Media Institute of Southern Africa
Media Rights Agenda
Media Watch
National Union of Somali Journalists
Pacific Freedom Forum
Pacific Islands News Association
Pakistan Press Foundation
Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms
Public Association "Journalists"
Southeast Asian Press Alliance
World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers
Writers in Prison Committee, PEN International
Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR)
Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB)
Bahrain Coordination Committee (BCC), US
Bahrain rehabilitation & Anti Violence Organization (BRAVO)
Bedoon Rights, Kuwait
Human Rights First
International Media Support (IMS), Denmark
Monitor of Human Rights in Saudi Arabia
Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint program of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT)
Tunis Centre for Freedom of the Press (CTPJ), Tunisia
Source: Human Rights Watch, Edited by moqawama.org
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