A/HRC/60/62
Mr. Al-Khawaja11, Mr. Al-Singace12 and Mr. Mushaima13 on numerous occasions, to which
the Government has responded.14
16.
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
17.
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.
18.
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.
19.
According to information received by OHCHR, Mr. Mushaima’s medical needs
continued to be neglected despite his worsening health. During the reporting period, he
reportedly faced delays receiving specialized care, including for chronic diseases, and his
requests for scans and certain medical tests continue to be ignored. Reportedly,
Mr. Mushaima remains in solitary confinement in Kanoo Medical Centre.
20.
On 31 July 2025, the Government responded to the note verbale sent in connection to
the present report, stating that there were no political prisoners in Bahrain, and that those
incarcerated have been convicted of crimes, not for their political beliefs or affiliations. The
11
BHR 3/2023;BHR 1/2023; A/HRC/WGAD/2012/6; BHR 3/2012; BHR 18/2011; 17/2011; 9/2011;
5/2011; 4/2011; 2/2009; 2/2007; 6/2005; see also press releases:
https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2021/06/bahrain-un-expert-alarmed-prolonged-detentionhuman-rights-defenders; https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/09/bahrain-un-expertalarmed-health-human-rights-defenders-prison#:~:text=%E2%80%9CI%20am%20extremely%20
concerned%20about,situation%20of%20human%20rights%20defenders.
12 BHR 3/2023;A/HRC/WGAD/2023/2; BHR 5/2021, BHR 4/2021, BHR 1/2019, BHR 5/2016, BHR
18/2011, BHR 4/2011, BHR 7/2010, and BHR 5/2010.
13 BHR 1/2019; BHR 5/2014; BHR 4/2012; BHR 17/2011; BHR 4/2011; BHR 3/2011; BHR 2/2007.
14 See government replies at:
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=37802
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=37486;
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=30542;
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=30543;
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=30544;
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=30545;
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=30187;
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=2110;
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoa dFile?gId=36840;
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=30287;
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=30864;
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=32017;
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=34961;
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=34960.
15 https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=38655.
16 https://x.com/MaryLawlorhrds/status/1909910485501169956.
47