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Abdulhadi Al Khawaja

International Mission to Bahrain Report: "Justice Denied in Bahrain"posted on: 2012/01/23

The following report documents the findings of a delegation comprised of representatives from six international rights groups (three members and three partners of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange, IFEX), which carried out a fact-finding mission between 20-30 November, 2011, in order to gain an understanding of the state of free expression and the status of human rights defenders in Bahrain.

Bahrain - Adam Shapiro finally gets to Meet jailed HRD Abdulhadi Al Khawaja

The drive out to the military court building took us on a main road bypassing villages and eventually newly built apartment buildings.

We were about 20 minutes outside of downtown Manama, and heading to a military base in order to visit with Abdulhadi Al Khawaja, father of Zainab Al Khawaja who was driving fast in the hope of getting to see her father. We were late on the road because Zainab was at the appeal hearing of her husband who was sentenced to a 5-year prison term.

At the military court building, Abdulhadi and his 13 other co-defendants are brought into two rooms where family members are allowed to spend 3 hours with them every two weeks. They are allowed to bring clothes, books, food and other things to the men, most of which is permitted to be taken back to the prison. When Zainab and I arrived, colleagues from other human rights organizations had already tried to get in to see Abdulhadi but had been turned away. I checked in with the military police guards and headed to the door where Zainab was waiting. She opened and I rushed in in front of her, and headed straight for her dad, standing at the front of the room.

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Front Line responds to the illegal imprisonment of Medical Professionals in Bahrain.posted on: 2011/11/07

In April, the Bahraini Authorities took brutal action against members of the medical profession for providing medical assistance to protesters who had been injured during the February and March demonstrations in Bahrain..

Front Line Coordinates Protest for Abdulhadi Al Khawaja - Bahrainposted on: 2011/11/07

September 15, 2011. As part of the Dublin Platform, Front Line organised a protest in support of Abdulhadi Al Khawaja before the Saudi Embassy in Dublin.

Appeal to Court of Cassation Filed in Abdulhadi Al Khawaja's Case in Bahrainposted on: 2011/10/27

Front Line Defenders Demands IMMEDIATE RELEASE of ABDULHADI AL KHAWAJA From Detention.

Bahrain: Front Line's Andrew Anderson highlights the denial of justice in the trial of Abdulhadi Al Khawajaposted on: 2011/10/19

Bahrain's rulers condemn themselves by sentencing my friend to life in prison

Abdulhadi Al Khawaja is a dear friend and former colleague who worked with us at Front Line up until February this year coordinating our work with human rights defenders in the Middle East and North Africa. Today a military court in Bahrain sentenced him to life imprisonment on charges including ”organising and managing a terrorist organisation” and “attempt to overthrow the government by force and in liaison with a terrorist organisation working for a foreign country”.

Further Information

The Bahraini Government has been trying to repress the protests which broke out in February calling for democracy and human rights and an end to corruption. They have also repeatedly insisted they are in favour of dialogue and reform and that the evidence of the killings of peaceful protesters and the torture of detainees was fabricated.

Bahrain : Trial of friend and ex-colleague Abdulhadi AlKhawaja

Today I attended Abdulhadi Al Khawaja's trial. Seeing our friend and ex-colleague in the dock, in prison uniform, was such an aberration of everything he stands for : - the deep and peaceful personal committment to human rights.

Abdulhadi is what I would call a "Gentleman" - thoughtful; kind and caring of others; full of integrity; gentle calm disposition and exquisite good manners.

I was very disappointed not to be allowed testify as a reference on his behalf - I reckon I know him better than those who seem determined to make him out to be something sinister.

Bahrain seems so peaceful as you come in from the airport - hard to believe that hundreds have been arrested for their legitimate rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association as per the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to which Bahrain has signed up to.

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Bahrain: Concern mounts for welfare of prisoners denied medical treatment as punishment for their hunger strikeposted on: 2011/10/10

Front Line Defenders is outraged at the refusal of the prison authorities in Bahrain to provide medical treatment for human rights defenders and political activists currently on the 12th day of their hunger strike. The prisoners include former Front Line Defenders Protection Coordinator Abdulhadi Al Khawaja and are demanding the release of all women political prisoners in Bahrain.

Bahrain: Concern mounts for welfare of prisoners denied medical treatment as punishment for their hunger strikeposted on: 2011/10/06

Front Line Defenders is outraged at the refusal of the prison authorities in Bahrain to provide medical treatment for human rights defenders and political activists currently on the 12th day of their hunger strike. The prisoners include former Front Line Defenders Protection Coordinator Abdulhadi Al Khawaja and are demanding the release of all women political prisoners in Bahrain.

Further Information

As the hunger strike enters its 12th day Front Line Defenders is deeply concerned at the deteriorating health of some of the prisoners. One prisoner was told by the prison guards that the denial of medical treatment was punishment for them going on hunger strike.

The 13 prisoners are taking tea and water only and are demanding the release of all women political prisoners in Bahrain.

The failure to provide medical care for the prisoners on hunger strike is in breach of all international standards for the fair treatment of prisoners.

Front Line Defenders is calling on Professor Cherif Bassiouni and the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry to intervene directly with the Bahraini authorities to ensure compliance with international law.

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Bahrain: Update - Appeal hearing takes place in the trial of Abdulhadi Al Khawajaposted on: 2011/09/09

On 6 September 2011, the National Safety Court of Appeal held its first session to review the appeal lodged by Abdulhadi Al Khawaja and 20 other defendants who were found guilty of, among other things, planning to overthrow the Government of Bahrain by force, and forming part of a terrorist organisation on 22 June 2011.

Further Information

During the court hearing, the court failed to address trial irregularities raised by Abdulhadi Al Khawaja's defence team and flatly rejected the pleas of the defence lawyers to call defence witnesses before the court.

Lawyers for Abdulhadi Al Khawaja called on the court to hear five of their witnesses but their demand was rejected as unnecessary. The defence team believe that their client has been denied a cardinal right to a fair trial and that they have been deprived of prosecution witnesses and calling defence witnesses as the most crucial line of defence in this case.