Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja
Defenders' stories
Story behind
Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja is a Bahraini-Danish advocate known for his unwavering commitment to freedom and democracy. An outspoken human rights defender he serves as a source of inspiration for activists in Bahrain and globally. Abdulhadi has protested Bahrain’s unlawful detention and torture of several civilians since he was a student. He received political asylum in Denmark with his family where he continued his advocacy work, documenting human rights violations in Bahrain. He became the first civil society representative to speak at the first Universal Periodic Review of Bahrain in 2008. He is the co-founder of both the Gulf Centre for Human Rights and the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, as well as the laureate of the 2022 Martin Ennals Award.
What happened
In April 2011 during the Bahrain chapter of what is known as the “Arab Spring” uprisings, while he was leading peaceful demonstrations, Abdulhadi was violently arrested. He went missing for two months and, in June 2011, after a military trial, he was condemned to life-imprisonment on terrorism-related charges, despite grave concerns from the international community about unfair trials
The Secretary-General expressed serious concern that his situation may be linked to his legitimate work in the defense of human rights, in particular his work with international human rights organisations, including the United Nations.
Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja was included for five times in the Secretary-General report on reprisals, noting “allegations of arbitrary arrest, torture and lengthy sentence following his engagement with United Nations human rights mechanisms.”
In 2012, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found the detention of Abdulhadi arbitrary.
In May 2021, special procedures mandate holders addressed concerns about arbitrary detention and sentencing of Abdulhadi in connection to his human rights work, as well as allegations of torture, ill treatment and poor conditions of detention.
Also, in June 2021, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders publicly called on Bahrain to release three human rights defenders held in long term detention and with a deteriorated health condition, including Abdulhadi.
More recently, in 2023, special procedures mandate holders addressed allegations of ill-treatment, additional criminal charges, and deteriorating health conditions of Abdulhadi.
Also in 2023, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders stated that the deteriorating health conditions of three human rights defenders, including Abdulhadi, was alarming.
What do we want
We want Abduhadi to be freed so he can continue his work without fear of further reprisals.
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- Story behind
Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja is a Bahraini-Danish advocate known for his unwavering commitment to freedom and democracy. An outspoken human rights defender he serves as a source of inspiration for activists in Bahrain and globally. Abdulhadi has protested Bahrain’s unlawful detention and torture of several civilians since he was a student. He received political asylum in Denmark with his family where he continued his advocacy work, documenting human rights violations in Bahrain. He became the first civil society representative to speak at the first Universal Periodic Review of Bahrain in 2008. He is the co-founder of both the Gulf Centre for Human Rights and the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, as well as the laureate of the 2022 Martin Ennals Award.
- What happened
In April 2011 during the Bahrain chapter of what is known as the “Arab Spring” uprisings, while he was leading peaceful demonstrations, Abdulhadi was violently arrested. He went missing for two months and, in June 2011, after a military trial, he was condemned to life-imprisonment on terrorism-related charges, despite grave concerns from the international community about unfair trials
The Secretary-General expressed serious concern that his situation may be linked to his legitimate work in the defense of human rights, in particular his work with international human rights organisations, including the United Nations.
Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja was included for five times in the Secretary-General report on reprisals, noting “allegations of arbitrary arrest, torture and lengthy sentence following his engagement with United Nations human rights mechanisms.”
In 2012, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found the detention of Abdulhadi arbitrary.
In May 2021, special procedures mandate holders addressed concerns about arbitrary detention and sentencing of Abdulhadi in connection to his human rights work, as well as allegations of torture, ill treatment and poor conditions of detention.
Also, in June 2021, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders publicly called on Bahrain to release three human rights defenders held in long term detention and with a deteriorated health condition, including Abdulhadi.
More recently, in 2023, special procedures mandate holders addressed allegations of ill-treatment, additional criminal charges, and deteriorating health conditions of Abdulhadi.
Also in 2023, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders stated that the deteriorating health conditions of three human rights defenders, including Abdulhadi, was alarming.
- What do we want
We want Abduhadi to be freed so he can continue his work without fear of further reprisals.
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