We are gravely concerned about Bahraini human rights defender and respected academic Dr Abduljalil Al-Singace, 63, who is serving a life sentence and has spent over 14 years arbitrarily detained solely for exercising his rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in Bahrain.
8 July 2024 marks four years since Dr. Al-Singace went on a liquid-only hunger strike in response to prison authorities’ confiscation of his manuscript on Bahraini dialects of Arabic that he spent four years researching and writing.
He continues to be held in prolonged solitary confinement within his room in Kanoo Medical Centre since July 2021, where he has been prohibited from exposure to direct sunlight and adequate physiotherapy that he requires for his disability. Additionally, authorities refuse to provide him with new crutches or provide replacements for the worn rubber tips for his crutches, as well as other necessary items, such as medical slippers to prevent him from falling in the bathroom and a hot water bottle to relieve pain.
According to recent updates provided by Dr Al-Singace, he continues to suffer from severe shoulder pain, tremors, and prostate issues. He has suffered from shoulder inflammation and fears that the severe deterioration of the shoulder joint may require surgical intervention. The results of an MRI conducted in October 2021 were not shared with his doctors, despite repeated requests. New scans requested by his specialist in October 2024 were finally conducted on 30 April 2025 — and it has now been over two months since he has not been able to see his specialist.
Additionally, authorities have frequently failed to refill his medical prescriptions in a timely and appropriate manner. For the third consecutive month, he did not receive adequate supplies of Neurobion for nerve inflammation and, consequently, refused tests and medications in protest on 25 June 2025. To the best of our knowledge, this remains unresolved.
All detainees must receive adequate healthcare, as required under both Bahraini domestic and international law.
We call on Bahrain to immediately and unconditionally release Dr. Al-Singace and, in the meantime, we request ensure he is held in conditions that meet international standards, receives his medication without delay, has access to adequate healthcare, including access to specialists in compliance with medical ethics, and that his arbitrarily confiscated research is immediately transferred to his family members.
