Bahrain Mirror: Activist Ali Mushaima recounted in a human rights seminar entitled "Slowly Dying in Bahraini prisons: A Call for Urgent Action", organized by the European Center for Democracy and Human Rights (ECDHR), the suffering of detained academic Abduljalil Al-Singace, who is on hunger strike, and that of Haq Movement leader, Hasan Mushaima.

Mushaima took part in the seminar on the 13th day of his hunger strike and sit-in outside the Bahrain Embassy in London for the sake of saving his father, Mr. Hasan Mushaima, and Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace and demanding their release. The vigil organized by the Bahraini activist in front of the embassy comes in very cold weather and strong winds, which doubles the suffering.

Mushaima stressed that his sit-in sheds light on the torture his father and Dr. Al-Singace are being subjected to.

He confirmed that both of them have been systematically subjected to torture and that they are still in prison. Meanwhile, perpetrators have not been held accountable yet. Nonetheless, violations continue more than 10 years after their arrest.

He cited the incident when his father was transferred last July to a health center under the pretext of following up on his health condition, and after nearly five months of treatment it became clear that these procedures were only formal and not serious, as he did not receive the necessary treatment, and his situation kept getting worse with days. 

He pointed to the continuation of Dr. Al-Singace's hunger strike to protest the ill-treatment and demand the return of his research which he spent more than 4 years to prepare. His research focuses on traditions and customs of the People of Bahrain, which proves that the regime in Bahrain is an enemy of culture despite its claim to the contrary. 

During the seminar, human rights activists highlighted the situation of political prisoners in Bahrain's prisons, which had reached the point of slow death as a result of violations they are subjected to.

For his part, Bahraini human rights activist Yusuf Al-Hoori said that the most important case in Bahrain is that of the political prisoners, as there are about 2000 political prisoners behind bars, most of whom are youths sentenced to long prison terms.

Al-Hoori wished that similar actions be taken in front of Bahraini embassies in Europe.

"The government does not allow the Special Rapporteur to visit Bahrain 10 years after the Arab Spring because they are supported and protected by Saudi Arabia and the UAE. In addition, the support they receive and their ability to ignore international pressure increased after the normalization deal."

Political dissident Dr. Saeed Al-Shehabi called to support Mushaima in his hunger strike.

Al-Shehabi spoke about a letter addressed from prison on January 2, 1974 with 16 names on it, most of them dead now. These were prisoners and were writing a letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, which was established after the British withdrawal, asking for attention to their case and describing their situation, saying that the prisoners' situation remains the same now as it was 47 years ago.

Al-Shehabi said that there are some parliamentary moves, but the Bahraini government is certain that there will be no serious moves against it, such as Magnitsky Sanctions or its entry into the International court or even increasing the powers of the Human Rights Council.

Bahrain faces international pressure due its human rights record and violations.

Arabic Version