Abduljalil Al Singace

Cases
Location of case in SG report
2011-015-001
Relevant SG report
Year of the report
2011
Country Geolocation

Latitude: 26.0667

Longitude: 50.5577

Country Geolocation (linked Cases)
Bahrain
From Region
UN body that raised the case prior to the SG report
  • UN Special Procedures: Thematic
Dates of prior UN action
22 March 2011
Type of record
Named individual
Gender
Male
Was the victim a foreign national?
No
Was the victim a minor?
No
Individual's/organization's activity

Head of the human rights office of the Haq Movement

Type of rights defended
  • Unclear in SG Report
Was the victim a civil servant or member of the security forces or of the judiciary?
No
Reported trigger of reprisal

It is alleged that the arrests were made in the aftermath of a security operation carried out by the security forces with the objective of removing protesters from Pearl Roundabout, Manama.

Engagement with UN body
  • UN Treaty Bodies: CAT
  • UN Human Rights Council: UN Human Rights Council - General
  • Unclear
Dates of engagement
17 March 2011
Type of attempted engagement
  • Unclear
Dates of mentioned reprisals
17 March 2011
Reprisal information

On 17 March 2011, both Mr. Al Singace and Mr. Mushaima were arrested by the Bahraini security apparatus. It is alleged that the arrests were made in the aftermath of a security operation carried out by the security forces with the objective of removing protesters from Pearl Roundabout, Manama. At the time when the communication was sent, the fate and whereabouts of Mr. Al Singace and Mr. Mushaima were unknown.

Types of reprisals suffered
  • Detention/Imprisonment: Detention/Imprisonment - General
  • Disappearance/Kidnapping
Alleged/likely perpetrators
State actors
Was the reprisal based on new legislation?
No
Does the report make general comment about country’s environment for engagement with UN?
No
Government response dates
26 May 2011
Government response content

The Government confirmed in response to the Communication that Mr. Al Singace had been arrested.

Was the case raised by a State at the UN?
Yes
Which State raised the case at the UN and when?

BENELUX raised the case in March 2022 at the 49th session of the HRC, under agenda item 5; 'We want to draw the attention of this Council the urgent situation of Bahraini HRDs Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja and Abduljalil Al-Singace, who have been arbitrarily detained for ten years in connection to their human rights work, and whose health continues to deteriorate in prison.'

Is the country cited for a "pattern of reprisal" in the context of this case?
No
Is a pattern of reprisals mentioned otherwise in the context of this case?
No
Does the report cite "self-censorship" as an issue in the context of this case?
No
How many times has the case been followed up in subsequent SG reports?
6
In which SG report was this case followed up on? 0
2012
Follow up information provided in SG report 0
  1. According to information received, the National Safety Court (a military court) sentenced Mr. Al-Khawaja, Mr. Al-Singace, Mr. Mushaima and Mr. Ghani Al-Kanja to life imprisonment on 22 June 2011. The Government reportedly considered that these human rights defenders formed part of a “terrorist cell”. The same defenders were referred to in several urgent appeals sent by special procedures, notably a communication of 5 August 2011 expressing concern in relation to their prosecution.13
Followup Trends 0
Deterioration/further reprisals
Did the government respond? 0
No
Was this case followed up by a UN body? 0
  • UN Special Procedures: Thematic
In which SG report was this case followed up on? 1
2021
Follow up information provided in SG report 1
  1. The cases of Mr. Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja and Mr. Abduljalil Al-Singace were included in the 2012 and 2011 reports of the Secretary-General on allegations of reprisals following their engagement with several UN bodies and mechanisms, including the UPR and the treaty bodies. 91 Mr. Al-Khawaja is a human rights defender and former Protection Coordinator of Frontline Defenders as well as former President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR). In 2012, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found the detention of Mr. Al-Khawaja arbitrary (Opinion No. 6/2012).92 Mr. Abduljalil Al-Singace was the Director and Spokesperson of the Human Rights Bureau of the Haq Movement for Civil Liberties and Democracy. Special procedures mandate holders have addressed his situation on multiple occasions. Mr. Al-Singace has a disability and requires the use of a wheelchair, addressed by special procedures mandate holders on several occasions93 and to which the Government has provided several replies.94
  2. On 3 May 2021, special procedures mandate holders addressed concerns about arbitrary detention and sentencing of Mr. Al-Khawaja and Mr. Al-Singace, carrying prison sentences of 10 years or more in connection to their human rights work, as well as allegations of torture, ill treatment and poor conditions of detention. Mandate holders noted that Mr. AlKhawaja’s health continues to deteriorate while in prison and he has reportedly been denied access to family correspondence, which other inmates allegedly have access to. Mr. AlSingace reportedly suffers the effects of polio and sickle-cell anaemia. The two human rights defenders are allowed to speak with relatives via phone due to COVID-19 restrictions (BHR 2/2021). On 28 June 2021, the Government responded to mandate holders (translation forthcoming).95
  3. On 2 August 2021, the Government responded to the note verbale sent in connection to the present report and provided information on the judicial processes concerning the individuals above including the judicial guarantees afforded to them. The Government addressed in detail the health status of the three individuals indicating that they are regularly monitored both by general practitioner and specialized doctors. The three have received COVID-19 vaccines according to their wishes.
Followup Trends 1
Deterioration/further reprisals
Date of follow up 1
28 October 2011, 3 May 2021
Did the government respond? 1
No
Was this case followed up by a UN body? 1
  • UN Special Procedures: Thematic
In which SG report was this case followed up on? 2
2022
Follow up information provided in SG report 2
  1. The case of Mr. Abduljalil Al-Singace was included in the 2011, 2012 and 2021 reports of the Secretary-General on allegations of arbitrary arrest, torture and heavy sentencing following his engagement with several UN bodies and mechanisms, including the UPR and the treaty bodies. Since 2011, Mr. Al-Singace is serving a life sentence on terrorism related charges. Mr. Al-Singace was the Director and Spokesperson of the Human Rights Bureau of the Haq Movement for Civil Liberties and Democracy. Mr. Al-Singace has a disability and requires the use of a wheelchair, and his case has been addressed by special procedures mandate holders on several occasions to which the Government has responded.
  2. On 15 November and 29 December 2021, special procedures mandate holders addressed the long-term detention and deteriorating health of Mr. Al-Singace and expressed concerns about allegations of torture, ill-treatment as well as poor conditions of detention. Mr. Al-Singace reportedly lacked reasonable accommodation for his disability, which required the use of a wheelchair (BHR 4/2021 and BHR 5/2021). On 8 July 2021, Mr. Al-Singace started a hunger strike in protest for the ill-treatment and the alleged confiscation of papers written over the course of four years in prison. On 18 July 2021, after a week in Al-Kalaa Hospital, Mr. Al-Singace was transferred to Ebrahim Khalil Kando Community Medical Centre, where he has reportedly remained since.
  3. On 1 February 2022, the Government replied to mandate holders noting that Mr. Al-Singace received comprehensive care and was granted all the rights established by law, including the right to communicate with his family and the right to receive visits on an ongoing basis. Regarding the allegations that Mr. Al-Singace was subjected to various forms of ill-treatment, it stressed that they were untrue and unsubstantiated. According to information received by OHCHR, as of 30 April 2022, Mr. Al-Singace’s health status and limited access to adequate medical care remain of serious concern.
  4. On 4 March 2022, in its concluding observations following the consideration of the initial report of Bahrain, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights expressed concern about the lack of information regarding the situation of several human rights defenders, including Mr. Al-Khawaja and Mr. Al Singace. The Committee recommended the State to protect human rights defenders from harassment, intimidation, and reprisals, and ensure the effective protection of Mr. Al-Khawaja and Al Mr. Singace.
Followup Trends 2
Stayed same
Date of follow up 2
15 November 2021, 29 December 2021, 4 March 2022
Did the government respond? 2
Yes
Was this case followed up by a UN body? 2
  • UN Treaty Bodies: CESCR
  • UN Special Procedures: Thematic
In which SG report was this case followed up on? 3
2023
Follow up information provided in SG report 3

  1. The case of Mr. Abduljalil Al-Singace was included in the 2011, 2012, 2021 and 2022 reports of the Secretary-General12 on allegations of arbitrary arrest, torture and the imposition of a life-imprisonment sentence following his engagement with several United Nations bodies and mechanisms. Mr. Al-Singace was the Director of the Human Rights Bureau of the Haq Movement for Civil Liberties and Democracy and is currently serving a life sentence on terrorism related charges. Mr. Al-Singace has a disability and requires the use of a wheelchair. United Nations treaty bodies and special procedures mandate holders have addressed Mr. Al-Singace’s situation on numerous occasions, to which the Government has responded. 15 According to information received by OHCHR, Mr. AlSingace is currently held in the Ebrahim Khalil Kanoo Medical Centre and in solitary confinement since July 2021. In March/April 2023, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention deemed his detention arbitrary (Opinion 2/2023). As of 30 April 2023, Mr. AlSingace reportedly continues the hunger strike he had started in July 2021 to protest against the degrading treatment he had allegedly been subjected to in Jau prison and the confiscation of his manuscript.

  2. On 17 July 2023, the Government responded to the note verbale sent in connection to the present report and stated that in Bahrain no one is arrested because of peaceful political activity or affiliations.

  3. Concerning the situation of Messrs. Al-Khawaja, Al-Singace and Mushaima, the Government noted that the three are being tried in cases involving calling for the overthrow of the political system in the country and changing it by force, committing hostile terrorist crimes, and communicating with foreign countries in attempts to undermine security and stability in the Kingdom. It stated further that Mr. Al-Khawaja’s health condition is being monitored at the medical clinic of the correction and rehabilitation centre, and that he is receiving medical treatment for his chronic diseases and is also followed-up in specialized clinics in outside hospitals. With regard to Mr. Al-Singace and Mr. Mushaima, the Government noted that they are both under the supervision of a general medical practitioner at the Ibrahim Khalil Kanu Medical Centre. The Government added that Mr. Al-Singage continues to voluntarily reduce the amount of fluid and food he takes and that Mr. Mushaima was treated for two medical conditions that required specialized treatment and one of them hospitalization. The Government explained further that Mr. Mushaima had been transferred back to the Ibrahim Khalil Kanu Centre on 20 May 2022.

Followup Trends 3
Stayed same
Date of follow up 3
March/April 2023
Did the government respond? 3
Yes
Was this case followed up by a UN body? 3
  • UN Special Procedures: Thematic
In which SG report was this case followed up on? 4
2024
Follow up information provided in SG report 4
  1. Mr. Al-Khawaja, former Protection Coordinator of the NGO Frontline Defenders and, is currently serving a life sentence on terrorism related charges. Mr. Al-Singace, former Director of the Human Rights Bureau of the Haq Movement for Civil Liberties and Democracy, is currently serving a life sentence on terrorism related charges. Mr. Al-Singace has a disability and requires the use of a wheelchair. United Nations treaty bodies8 and special procedures mandate holders have addressed Mr. Al-Khawaja’s 9 and Mr. Al-Singace’s 10 situation on numerous occasions, to which the Government has responded.11
  2. On 13 September 2023, mandate holders addressed allegations of continued detention and health concerns regarding Mr. Al-Singace and Mr. Al-Khawaja (BHR 3/2023). On 15 September 2023 and 9 January 2024, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders publicly expressed her concerns about the deteriorating health of both human rights defenders. 12 On 10 November 2023, the Government responded to mandate holders providing information about actions by the Special Investigations Unit regarding 13 s of Mr. Al-Singace and Mr. Al-Khawaja, as well as updates on their health conditions. The Government also informed about measures taken to prevent human rights violations against inmates by members of the prison authorities and security personnel.
  3. According to information received by OHCHR, on 7 January 2024 Mr. Al-Singace started a hunger strike (except for water) after his family was subjected to harsh measures during their visit to Kanoo Medical Center. Prior to this, Mr. Al-Singace had been sustaining himself on multivitamin liquid supplements, tea with milk and sugar, water, and salts since July 2021. This solid food strike was to protest the confiscation of his intellectual property.
Followup Trends 4
Stayed same
Did the government respond? 4
No
In which SG report was this case followed up on? 5
2025
Follow up information provided in SG report 5
  1. During the period, mandate holders addressed the situation of Mr. Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, Mr. Abduljalil Al-Singace and Mr. Hassan Mushaima, whose cases have been included in previous reports of the Secretary-General, on allegations of arbitrary arrest, torture and lengthy sentences on terrorism charges, following their engagement with the United Nations. Specifically, their situation was included in the 2011 and 2012 reports of the Secretary-General as well as in the 2021, 2023 and 2024 reports concerning Mr. Mushaima and since 2021 regarding Mr. Al-Khawaya and Mr. Al-Singace.9
  2. Mr. Al-Khawaja, former Protection Coordinator of the NGO Frontline Defenders, Mr. Al-Singace, former Director of the Human Rights Bureau of the Haq Movement for Civil Liberties and Democracy and Mr. Mushaima, former Secretary of the Haq Movement for Liberty and Democracy, are currently serving a life sentence on terrorism related charges. Mr. Al-Singace has a disability and requires the use of a wheelchair. United Nations treaty bodies 10 and special procedure mandate holders have addressed the situation of Mr. Al-Khawaja11, Mr. Al-Singace12 and Mr. Mushaima13 on numerous occasions, to which the Government has responded.14
  3. On 11 July 2024, mandate holders addressed allegations of continued arbitrary detention of Mr. Al-Khawaja, Mr. Al-Singace and Mr. Mushaima and their exclusion from the Royal Pardon of 8 April 2024. Mandate holders reiterated their alarm at their deteriorating health condition and lack of access to adequate medical treatment and care (BHR 3/2024), to which the Government responded.15
  4. According to information received by OHCHR, on 16 March 2025, authorities suspended Mr. Al-Khawaja’s video calls with his family. A week later, Mr. Al-Khawaja learnt that the video calls had been permanently suspended and started a water only hunger strike that he discontinued after prison authorities promised to reinstate the calls. On 9 April 2025, the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders publicly called for his immediate release in a video posted on social media..16 A week later, on 15 April 2025, Mr. Al-Khawaja reportedly initiated a peaceful sit-in outside his cell to protest that the suspension of the video calls with his family was still in force. Three days later, he reportedly discontinued the sit-in to protect access to medical treatment for other prisoners. In November 2024, he was recommended for hernia surgery by a medical professional, which has not yet been scheduled at the time of writing.
  5. During the reporting period, Mr. Al-Singace reportedly remained in prolonged solitary confinement in his room at Kanoo Medical Centre and continued to be denied access to outdoor spaces, direct sunlight, the physiotherapy and mobility aids required for his disability, and adequate medical care for multiple conditions. He remains on a solid-food hunger strike to protest the confiscation of his scientific research.
Followup Trends 5
Stayed same
Date of follow up 5
11 July 2024
Did the government respond? 5
Yes
Was this case followed up by a UN body? 5
  • UN Special Procedures: UN Special Procedures - General