Human Rights Defenders imprisoned in Bahrain: The case of Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace

The human rights situation of prisoners of conscience in Bahrain is a matter of serious concern. One prominent illustration of this is the case of Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace, an academic and opposition figure imprisoned since 2011 who experienced abuse and torture whilst in prison. This ongoing violation of human rights started when Al-Singace exercised his rights to freedom of expression and his activism during the Arab Spring outbreak.

Al-Singace is a mechanical engineer, blogger, and human rights activist who was arrested without the police presenting an arrest warrant. As a result of the physical and psychological abuse and torture that occurred during and after his arrest, Dr. Abduljalil made a false confession and was sentenced to life in prison on charges of attempting to topple the government. Dr. Al-Singace was actually sentenced for exercising his freedom of expression and association and his peaceful role during the pro-democracy protests and consequently he faced a systemic violation of his rights and unfair trial.

Dr. al-Singace suffers from several health issues, and since March 2013 Bahraini officials have habitually ignored his requests for medical attention despite his chronic and long-term polio, which has left him paralyzed since childhood. Indeed, Dr. Al-Singace depends on a wheelchair, and he has been denied access to medical appointments unless he agrees to go through humiliating treatment that violates the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. For instance, Dr. Al-Singace’s carpal tunnel condition worsened since he was forced to stand on his leg with his hands lifted and cuffed, he was left without glasses for over a month and prison authorities refused to replace the rubber padding on his crutches.

After being imprisoned in Jau Prison, where his health severely deteriorated as a result of abuse and inhumane treatment, Dr. Al-Singace has been detained at the Kanoo Medical Center for over three years now. He has been isolated in the same section as the political prisoner Hassan Mushaima, and both of them are still being prevented from meeting other inmates. Here Dr. Al-Singace has been denied access to direct sunlight, new clothes, and necessary physiotherapy and medical examinations.

Due to the ill-treatment and harassment he faced while in prison, Dr. Al-Singace started a hunger strike to highlight the degrading treatment by the Bahraini authorities. He began refusing solid food to protest prison authorities confiscating his manuscript discussing Arabic dialect and Bahraini culture, and he remained on a solid-food hunger strike for over a year, aggravating his health condition. He has continued the solid food hunger strike – started 1,207 days ago – and his illness escalated in September 2024 when he intensified his strike.

On 14 September 2024, after the Ministry of Interior delayed providing essential medications, Dr. Al-Singace decided to stop consuming the vitamin and mineral solution he relied on for nutrition, subsisting solely on drinking water. Due to his refusal of the remedy, the Kanoo Medical Center’s nursing staff provided intravenous fluids to keep him alive.

However, his failing health and issues with vein access brought him to stop using IV fluids as well and thus, he has recently resumed taking the vitamin and mineral solution. As a result, Dr. Al-Singace’s red blood cell count has plummeted, endangering his life. This is mostly due to the delay in the provision of critical medications as reported by Dr. Al-Singace. Authorities are attempting to portray him as refusing to take his medications, yet he indicated that his room is filled with empty medication boxes. He is also being denied treatment for various medical conditions, including arthritis, vision impairment, tremors, prostate issues, dental problems, skin conditions, and respiratory issues. In reality, the authorities have failed to supply him with the necessary medications.

His family has constantly denounced the ongoing procrastination and neglect and urged the Ministries of Interior and Health, along with the Kanoo Medical Center administration, to take immediate action and hold the responsible authorities accountable for Dr. Al-Singace’s condition. Moreover, in March 2021, the European Parliament joined Reporters Without Borders, English PEN, and Amnesty International among other important organizations, in their call for his imminent and unconditional release while in March 2023 the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued an opinion on Dr. Al-Singace’s case calling for appropriate medical care.

There is no evidence that Bahraini government and local oversight institutions such as the National Institute for Human Rights (NIHR) and the Ministry of Interior Ombudsman are taking any corrective action to improve Al-Singace’s health condition which continues to deteriorate.

Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) calls on the Bahraini authorities to respond to the request of the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Al-Singace who was arbitrarily detained due to his peaceful activism since 2011. Dr. Al-Singace’s arbitrary arrest, abuse and medical negligence are clear violations of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). ADHRB also urges the Bahraini government to investigate allegations of torture and medical neglect considering Mr Al-Singace’s deteriorating health condition. Finally, ADHRB calls on the international community to further advocate for Mr Al-Singace’s urgent supply of appropriate and necessary medical care pressure authorities without humiliating restraints but respecting international law standards.