Bahrain: Rights groups criticize treatment of jailed hunger-striking academic

Several human rights groups have criticized Bahrain over its treatment of a political prisoner who has refused to take solid foods for the past year in protest against his detention.

Abduljalil al-Singace, director and spokesperson of the Human Rights Bureau of the Haq Movement for Civil Liberties and Democracy, has been in jail since 2011, when he was sentenced to life in prison on terrorism allegations.

He began a hunger strike in July 2021 after the confiscation of research materials from his cell in Jaw Prison, in eastern Bahrain.

In a statement on Friday, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) called on Bahraini authorities to release the activist, who reportedly suffers from chronic medical conditions, including post-polio syndrome, and requires crutches or a wheelchair to move.

“We must not allow Abduljalil al-Singace to die and to be forgotten,” said Sabrina Bennoui, the head of RSF’s Middle East desk.

“Dr. al-Singace’s determination and courage to fight for justice has been an inspiration to us to continue striving for his and all other arbitrarily detained political prisoners,” said Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, Director at the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (Bird).