WHRD IC Calls for Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja to be released to Denmark on humanitarian grounds

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WHRD IC Calls for Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja to be released to Denmark on humanitarian grounds

HM King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa
Office of The King
The Amiri Court, Rifa’a Palace
PO Box 555
Manama
Bahrain

11th April 2012

Your Highness:

The Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition (WHRD IC) is deeply concerned about the health and welfare of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, a well-known and highly respected human rights defender who has been a strong and peaceful advocate for the rights of women in Bahrain and throughout the Middle East. He has been on hunger strike since the night of February 8/9 and is currently being held in the Bahrain Defence Force Royal Medical Services hospital. The WHRD IC is especially concerned about reports that his health is deteriorating.

We are also concerned for the welfare of his family, including his daughter Zainab Al-Khawaja, and their right to carry out their human rights activities free from harm.

We urge the Bahraini authorities to release Abdulhadi to Denmark on humanitarian grounds, as per the request of the Foreign Minister of Denmark, so that he can receive treatment both for the effects of the hunger strike and the ongoing pain he suffers as a result of the torture he suffered during his detention (BICI report, Annex B, Case #8).

Your Majesty, we urge you to show statesmanship and grant Abdulhadi's release from prison so that he may go to Denmark for urgent treatment.

Thank you for your consideration.

The Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition (WHRD IC) is a resource and advocacy network for the protection and support of women human rights defenders worldwide.

This letter has been endorsed by:

Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID)

Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Rights (UAF)

Women’s Initiative for Gender Justice (WIGJ)

Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML)

Women’s Learning Partnership for Rights, Development and Peace (WLP)

WOREC Nepal

National Alliance of Women Human Rights Defenders (Nepal)

Isis International

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