53. 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
54. On 13 April 2012, four special rapporteurs issued a press release urging the Government to immediately release Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, who was serving a life sentence as a result of a decision of a military court on terrorism-related charges brought against him. Allegedly, he had been held in incommunicado detention before being allowed to seek legal counsel and forced to make confessions under duress, which were later used as evidence in his trial. Mr. Al-Khawaja reportedly had been on hunger strike since 8 February 2012 and despite assurances of his well-being by Bahraini authorities, reports and photos documenting his poor state of health continued to emerge. The special rapporteurs noted that the case was “sadly emblematic of the overall treatment of human rights defenders in Bahrain”.14 Special procedures sent several urgent appeals in relation to this case, most recently on 12 March 2012 (A/HRC/20/30, p. 68)

7. 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
8. 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
9. 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.

The case of Mr. Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja 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 the UN, including the UPR and the treaty bodies. Since 2011, Mr. Al-Khawaja is serving a life sentence on terrorism related charges. 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). His case has been addressed by special procedures mandate holders on several occasions to which the Government has responded. In 2012, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found the detention of Mr. Al-Khawaja arbitrary (Opinion No. 6/2012). On 22 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 Mr. Al-Khawaja. According to information received by OHCHR, as of 30 April 2022, Mr. Al-Khajawa is still in detention and his health status and access to adequate medical care remain a source of serious concern.

6. The case of Mr. Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, a Danish-Bahrani human rights defender, was included in the 2011, 2012, 2021 and 2022 reports of the Secretary-General on allegations of arbitrary arrest, torture and lengthy sentence following his engagement with United Nations human rights mechanisms. Mr. Al-Khawaja is the former Protection Coordinator of Frontline Defenders as well as former President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights. He is currently serving a life sentence on terrorism related charges. In 2012, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found the detention of Mr. Al-Khawaja arbitrary on the basis that his deprivation of liberty was the result of the exercise of his fundamental freedoms and human rights as well as due to the non-observance of the international norms relating to the right to a fair trial.6 United Nations treaty bodies and special procedures mandate holders have addressed Mr. Al-Khawaja’s situation on numerous occasions, to which the Government has responded.
7. On 17 February 2023, special procedures mandate holders addressed allegations of ill-treatment, additional criminal charges, and deteriorating health conditions of Mr. AlKhawaja (BHR 1/2023). On 17 April 2023, the Government responded 10 providing information on Mr. Al-Khawaja’s health conditions and rejecting allegations of restrictions of communications and ill-treatment. On 7 November, during the 41st session of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, a Member State made a recommendation to release all arbitrarily detained persons in Bahrain, including Mr. Al-Khawaja (A/HRC/52/4, para. 194.24), and the Government took note of it (A/HRC/52/4/Add.1, para. 37). On 3 April 2023, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders expressed concerns publicly at reports of the worsening health condition of Mr. Al-Khawaja and called on the Government to provide urgent medical care and immediately release him.
8. 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.
9. 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.

9. During the period, mandate holders addressed the situation of Mr. Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja and Mr. Abduljalil Al-Singace whose cases have been included in the reports of the Secretary-General since 2021, and prior to that in 2011 and 2012, 7 on allegations of arbitrary arrest, torture and lengthy sentences following their engagement with the United Nations.
10. 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
11. 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 ofMr. 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.
12. 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.
13. According to information received by OHCHR, from 9 to 14 May 2023 Mr. Al-Khawaja reportedly staged a daily protest in the yard of Jau Prison demanding adequate medical care. On 9 August 2023, Mr. Al-Khawaja joined other prisoners in a collective hunger strike 14 to protest for prison conditions, denial of medical care, and continued arbitrary detention. On 12 August 2023 he was taken to the intensive care unit of the Bahrain Defense Force Hospital due to cardiac problems.14. On 15 September 2023, Ms. Maryam Al-Khawaja, daughter of Mr. Al-Khawaya and a woman human rights defender, was prevented from checking in at London Heathrow Airport for a flight to Bahrain to visit her father and could not board the plane. The case of Ms. Maryam Al-Kawaya was included in the 2013 report 15 of the Secretary-General on allegations of surveillance, intimidation and smearing in national media linked to her participation in an NGO side-event during 21st session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva and in connection with the 2nd cycle of the Universal Periodic review of Bahrain.16