Dublin colleague fears Bahrain hunger striker may die soon

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

‘With the Formula One race complete, the Bahraini Government has no more excuses for delaying justice for Abdulhadi’ – Front Line Defenders

DETAINED Bahraini human rights activist Abdulhadi Alkhawaja has been on hunger strike in the Middle East kingdom since 8 February 2012 against his unjust imprisonment and there are fears that he may die at any time.

Sinn Féin activist Danielle Martin knows Abdulhadi from working with him when he worked for Front Line Defenders, an international human rights organisation based in Dublin.

Danielle was one of a number of Sinn Féin Republican Youth activists who staged a white-line picket in Belfast last weekend to highlight Abdulhadi’s cry for justice.

While Abdulhadi was laying his life on the line for democracy and freedom, billionaire Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone was helping the royal family of Bahrain stage a propaganda coup through hosting the Bahrain Grand Prix. The motorsports extravaganza went ahead in the face of worldwide opposition and with Bahrain police crackdowns on pro-democracy protests. A Channel 4 News TV crew filming a street protest was captured in a police car chase and expelled. Japanese journalists were arrested, locals working with the international press were beaten and ‘tasered’, while other news crews were barred from entering Bahrain.

Danielle Martin told An Phoblacht:

“Abdulhadi is a former colleague of mine who has spent much time in Ireland over the years. Up until last year he worked for Front Line Defenders, an international human rights organisation based in Blackrock.”

She said he left the organisation in 2011 to join the pro-democracy protests in Bahrain as a result of the Arab Spring. His main work at this time was monitoring and documenting human rights abuses, which were (and still are) occurring in huge numbers.

She explained:

“Abdulhadi is a peaceful man, always trying to encourage others to follow in his footsteps. He is a loving husband, father and adoring grandfather. For his work he was arrested, tortured and sentenced to life in prison on the basis on falsified allegations during what was internationally regarded as a politically motivated trial.”

Human Rights organisations around the world have called for his immediate and unconditional release but regardless of this the authorities have ignored them.

Danielle ended:

“Just like with the 1981 hunger strikers in the H-Blocks, the world watches with baited breath as this inspirational man fights for the freedom of his country.”

**

FRONT LINE DEFENDERS issued this report on 23 April:

ON the 75th day of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja’s hunger strike in Bahrain, the Court of Cassation has postponed ruling the appeal of Abdulhadi and his 13 co-defendants, for the second time in a month. Despite assurances from the Bahraini Government following the issuing of the Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) in November that all trials conducted by the National Safety Court would be reviewed, Abdulhadi’s case reveals the Government’s strategy to keep delaying this high-profile case.

Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja was tried by the National Safety Court of Bahrain, established after the suspension of the Constitution in March 2011.

Abdulhadi’s trial was observed by Front Line Defenders and other international legal observers. It was found to be patently unfair and failed to live up to international fair trial standards. This determination was later confirmed by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, which was appointed by the King and which found:

“It is clear that the National Safety Decree, as implemented by the Military Attorney General, overtook the national system of justice. A pattern of due process violations occurred at the pre-trial and trial levels that denied most defendants elementary fair trial procedures.”

Following the BICI Report, which was accepted in full by the Bahraini Government, the Bahraini Government gave assurances that all recommendations of the BICI report would be implemented, including the review of unfair trials. At the last hearing, the Court of Cassation refused to allow the BICI report to be entered into evidence as part of the appeal by Abdulhadi’s defence lawyer.

Front Line Defenders Director Mary Lawlor, who attended the brief hearing last month, said:

“Today’s delay exposes the Government’s determination to drag this issue out. Abdulhadi is in dire condition, imprisoned for his legitimate human rights work. We don’t know how much longer he can survive on this hunger strike and yet the Government continues to evade its own commitments.”

“With the Formula One race complete, the Bahraini Government has no more excuses for delaying justice for Abdulhadi. At the very least, his release to Denmark on humanitarian grounds should be expedited, before it is too late,” said Ms Lawlor.

Front Line Defenders