August 9, 2012

Scholars at Risk calls for letters in advance of the upcoming August 14th Court of Cassation hearing date on the appeal of Dr. Abdul Jalil Al-Singace, a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Bahrain, Isa Town.

Scholars at Risk (SAR) is an international network of over 280 universities and colleges in 34 countries dedicated to promoting academic freedom and its constituent freedoms of thought, opinion, expression, association and travel. In cases involving alleged infringement of these freedoms, SAR intervenes hoping to clarify and resolve matters favorably.

SAR is gravely concerned that Dr. Abdul Jalil Al-Singace has been sentenced to life in prison on allegations stemming from his exercise of freedom of expression and freedom of association, rights protected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Bahrain has acceded. As SAR wrote in letters of August 27, 2010, October 14, 2010, March 18, 2011, June 22, 2011, and April 27, 2012, we respectfully urge the appropriate authorities to ensure that the appeal process is a fair one, consistent with internationally recognized standards of due process, fair trial and detention, in accordance with Bahrain’s obligations under international law, and that any charges, convictions or sentences against Dr. Al-Singace related to his peaceful exercise of human rights are lifted. 

Scholars at Risk invites letters, emails and faxes be sent:
 
-respectfully urging the appropriate authorities to ensure that the appeal process is a fair one, consistent with internationally recognized standards of due process, fair trial and detention, in accordance with Bahrain’s obligations under international law; and

-respectfully urging the appropriate authorities to ensure that any charges, convictions or sentences against Dr. Al-Singace related to his peaceful exercise of human rights are lifted. 

PLEASE WRITE TO:

Dr. Ali Bin Fadhl al-Bouainain
Attorney General
Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs
Diplomatic Area, Manama P.O. Box 450
Kingdom of Bahrain
Fax: +973 1-753-6343     

COPIES TO:   

Lieutenant-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa
Minister of the Interior
Ministry of Interior
Diplomatic Area, Manama P.O. Box 13
Kingdom of Bahrain

The Honorable Hillary R. Clinton
United States Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC  20520, USA

The Honorable _________
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to [YOUR COUNTRY]
[POSTAL ADDRESS]
[FAX]
[EMAIL]
(See http://www.mofa.gov.bh/ for a list of Bahraini embassies worldwide.)

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

Scholars at Risk
New York University
194 Mercer Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10012, USA
[email protected]
Fax: +1 212-995-4402

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.