Contents
1. Summary
2. Background
3. Action required
4. Sample letter
5. Addresses for sample letters
1. Summary
Dr Abduljalil al-Singace, a member of the Haq Movement, has been imprisoned in Bahrain since 22 June. He was tried in a military court and found guilty with twenty other defendants.
Write to your foreign minister, and UN Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie, demanding they take action to ensure the immediate release of Dr Abduljalil al-Singace.
2. Background
Dr Abduljalil al-Singace – a member of the Haq Movement – and his co-defendants were sentenced on 22 June for their political activism during the course of widespread protests in the country in 2011. Their trial was conducted in an ‘emergency’ military court, despite martial law having ended on 1 June. Many of the co-defendants received life sentences, and others received sentences ranging from two to fifteen years. Al-Singace was one of those that received life.
Al-Singace was imprisoned even after the Bahrain Independent Commission for Inquiry (BICI) report has plainly stated that these military trials relied on testimonies gained from torture, and that full details of the charges were not disclosed to those convicted. The trial has been condemned for having not met the standards of freedom and fairness that would be accorded by an independent court.
Over ten months since his sentencing, and al-Singace’s remains unjustly imprisoned. This has been facilitated by the apathy of Western politicians who have sidelined the human rights struggle in Bahrain.
3. Action Required
IHRC requests its campaigners and supporters to write letters and emails to Angelina Jolie, and your country’s foreign minister. Demand that your foreign minister does something to secure the release of Dr Abduljalil al-Singace, and that Angelina Jolie champion his cause.
4. Sample letter
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Sample letters are given below for your convenience. Please note that model letters can be sent directly or adjusted as necessary to include further details. If you receive a reply to the letter you send, we request you to send a copy of the letter you sent and the reply you received to IHRC. This is very important as it helps IHRC to monitor the situation with regards to our campaigns and to improve upon the current model letters.
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a) Ms Angelina Jolie; UN Goodwill Ambassador and member of Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).
Mrs Angelina Jolie,
c/o Mr Geyer Kosinski,
9200 Sunset Boulevard,
Ste. 550,
West Hollywood, CA 90069
USA.
Telephone: (+1) 310 275 7900
Fax: (+1) 310 275 7910
[Your name]
[Your address]
[Date]
Dear Ms Angelina Jolie,
Re: Request to defend the cause of Dr Abduljalil al-Singace in Bahrain.
I wish to make you aware of the ongoing human rights situation in Bahrain.
Dr Abduljalil al-Singace – a member of the Haq Movement – and his co-defendants were sentenced on 22 June for their political activism during the course of widespread protests in the country in the spring. Their trial was conducted in an ‘emergency’ military court, despite martial law having ended on 1 June. Many of the co-defendants received life sentences, and others received sentences ranging from two to fifteen years. Al-Singace was one of those that received life.
Al-Singace remains imprisoned even after the Bahrain Independent Commission for Inquiry (BICI) report has plainly stated that these military trials relied on testimonies gained from torture, and that the charges were not fully disclosed to those later convicted. The trial has been condemned for having not met the standards of freedom and fairness that would be accorded by an independent court.
Over ten months since his sentencing, al-Singace’s remains unjustly imprisoned. His treatment has been compounded by the continued marginalisation of Bahrain by the mainstream media.
I kindly request that you use your position as Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations to make the plight of those seeking freedom, justice and equality in Bahrain known. This would start by bringing the case of Dr Abduljalil al-Singace to the attention of the world media. Please use your status as an internationally recognisable actress to secure the release of al-Singace.
I look forward to you reply.
Yours sincerely,
[Your signature]
[Your name]
b) Minister of foreign affairs in your country. (UK campaigners can write using the address supplied below, fax: +44 (0)20 7839 2417 or email: private.office@fco.gov.uk)
[Your name]
[Your address]
Rt Hon. William Hague MP
Foreign & Commonwealth Office,
King Charles Street,
London,
SW1A 2AH,
United Kingdom.
[Date]
Dear Mr Hague,
Re: Lack of action to secure the release of Dr Abduljalil al-Singace in Bahrain.
I am writing to you with deep concern about the policy of the British government in Bahrain. In particular, I am puzzled as to why the British government have not intervened to secure the release of Dr Abduljalil al-Singace.
Abduljalil al-Singace – a member of the Haq Movement – and his co-defendants were sentenced on 22 June for their political activism during the course of widespread protests in the country in the spring. Their trial was conducted in an ‘emergency’ military court, despite martial law having ended on 1 June. Many of the co-defendants received life sentences, and others received sentences ranging from two to fifteen years. Al-Singace was one of those that received life.
Abduljalil continues to be denied even the most basic freedoms as he serves a life sentence passed by the military court. He is imprisoned even after the Bahrain Independent Commission for Inquiry (BICI) report plainly states that these military trials relied on testimonies gained from torture, and that full details of the charges were not disclosed to those convicted.
Over a year after the beginning of the uprisings in Bahrain; his circumstances – and those of his compatriots – are unchanged. He is still imprisoned unjustly, and still being denied fair treatment by the prison authorities. Why is the UK not taking up the plight of those seeking freedom, justice and equality in Bahrain? What are you going to do to secure the release of Dr Abduljalil al-Singace?
I look forward to your reply.
Yours sincerely,
[Your signature]
[Your name]
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5. Addresses for sample letters
a) Minister for Foreign Affairs in Australia.
Australian campaigners can write to:
The Hon Kevin Rudd MP
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Telephone: (02) 6277 7500
b) Minister of Foreign Affairs in Canada.
Canadian campaigners can write to:
Minister of Foreign Affairs – John Baird
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, ON, Canada
K1A 0G2
c) Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia.
Indonesian campaigners can write to:
Dr. R.M. Marty M. Natalegawa
Jl. Pejambon No.6.
Jakarta Pusat, 10110
Indonesia
Telephone: (62 21) 344 15 08
d) Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia.
Malaysian campaigners can write to:
Honourable Dato’ Sri Anifah Hj. Aman
Wisma Putra, No 1, Jalan Wisma Putra,
Precint 2, 62602 PUTRAJAYA
e) Prita Patel, MP for Witham; Secretary of Bahrain All-Party Parliamentary Group.
Prita Patel MP,
House of Commons,
London,
SW1A 0AA.
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Holy Qur’an: Chapter 4, Verse 75
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