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.

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.

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.