Alkhawaja and the other 13 prominent leaders had their case taken to the Court of Cassation yesterday, where lawyers requested that they be released pending court decision. The judge refused the request, and announced that the decision will be read on the 23rd of April.
The BCHR urges the Bahrain government to immediately release Abdulhadi Alkhawaja on humanitarian grounds as his life is in serious danger, and getting to a situation where there might be an unrepairable damage to his physical well-being, if he survives. We urge the government to take into consideration the deteriorating health condition of Abdulhadi Alkhawaja that cannot wait until the court's decision. Any damage to the health of Abdulhadi Alkhawaja is the responsibility of the Bahraini government, including keeping him alive.
April 03, 2012
55th day of hungerstrike: Human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja hospitalized
Because of deteriorated condition, the jail administration decided to move Al-Khawaja this morning to the main prisoners' hospital at the ministry of interior's headquarter (The Fort) to stay under supervision.
On April 2, Bahrain's Court of Cassation refused to release Al-Khawaja and another 13 detained activists, and it refused to include the BICI report in the case records. It said it would announce on April 23 its verdict in the case. After the hearing session Al-Khawaja called to inform his family and lawyer that he will stop glucose intake.
According to his lawyer, Al-Khawja will sustain from any IV intake in case his health deteriorated.
Bahraini activist Zainab Alkhawaja has posted a heart-shaped letter from her father Adbulhadi, the detained human rights activist who is on Day 54 of a hunger strike:
My dear & beloved family, from behind prison bars, I send to you my love & yearning. From a free man, to a free family. These prison walls don't separate me from you, they bring us closer together. Our connection & determination is stronger than ever. We take our strength, from beautiful memories. Remembering every trip, every meal we ate together, all the conversations, remembering every smile, all the jokes & the laughter. The distance between us disappears, thru our love & faith.
It's true: I am in here, & you are out there. But, you are in here with me, and I am out there with you. Our pain is made more bearable when we remember we chose this difficult path & took an oath to remain on it. We must not only remain patient thru our suffering, we must never allow the pain to conquer our souls. Let our hearts be filled with joy, and an acceptance of the responsibility we have been given for in the end, this life is about finding a path of truth towards God.
Also check this interview with Nabeel Rajab and Zainab AlKhawaja on democracynow.org
March 31, 2012
Human rights defender Abdulhadi Alkhawaja's family went to visit him this morning and were told that he has been hospitalized since last night and is not in the prison. They were not allowed to get access to him at the military hospital.
Yesterday his blood sugar had dropped to 2.1. After collapsing, he was taken to the military hospital, then returned to prison. He then collapsed again and was taken to the prison hospital. According to AlKhawaja's family, his color has turned greyish, his eyes have fallen deeper into their sockets and he has lost around 25% of his weight. It is important to note that Alkhawaja was not in good health when he started his hunger strike due to being subjected to severe torture during his detention.
The doctor informed Alkhawaja that "he might fall asleep and not wake up", that the continuation of his hunger strike could cause him to go into a permanent coma.
March 29, 2012
Human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja enters 50th day of hunger strike
Latest info received from his lawyer Mr Mohamed Al-Jishi after a visit this morning:
Today a Danish doctor visited AlKhawaja to checkup on his health. Results showed his blood sugar has dropped significantly to 2.1.
Doctors (Danish doctor and prison's doctor) stated that AlKhawaja's situation is very critical and worrisome. They expect his health to deteriorate any moment in the coming days.
Doctors stress that he needs glucose intake to stay alive. Yesterday AlKhawaja stated that in coming days he'll be giving up glucose too, in protest of Bahrain regime claiming that it's not a hunger strike if he is taking glucose.
His lawyer Mohamed AlJishi says although AlKhawaja has lost more than 15 kg he's more determined than ever.
Also see this:
Andrew Anderson of Front Line defenders: My fears and Abdulhadi Alkhawaja's courage after fifty days on hunger strike
March 14, 2012
DUBAI (Reuters) - The condition of a jailed Bahraini activist who has been on hunger strike for over a month is deteriorating.
Khawaja is drinking a liter a day of salted water and glucose but prison authorities may intervene to force-feed him if the hunger strike continues, said Mohammed al-Jishi, a lawyer who visited him this week.
"He can't go on like this, but he refuses absolutely to go back to eating. He says 'I take my freedom or die'," he said, adding Khawaja had stopped drinking water for several days last week. "Since Sunday he started drinking liquids again and got back strength and could talk and move."
Khawaja stopped drinking in protest after a visit by Bahraini rights group official who Khawaja had believed was a journalist, Jishi said. He said the group, viewed by Khawaja as pro-government, gave a false impression of his condition.
"We believe that his hunger strike is not exposing him thus far to imminent danger," the group called Mabadi said in a statement published in the pro-government al-Ayyam daily.
Supporters of Khawaja have started a Twitter campaign to raise awareness under the hashtag #KillingKhawaja, which has trended on the social network. Read more on ibtimes.co.uk
March 11th, 2012
The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) has recently learnt that on the 6th of March, two individuals who only identified themselves as Dr. Fatima and Mohammed met with Human Rights Defender Mr.Abdulhadi Alkhawaja in prison. The doctor told him she will be administrating a checkup and consequently Mr.Alkhawaja allowed this. The results were, low blood pressure, low blood sugar and low temperature. When they started asking him questions unrelated to his health, Mr.Alkhawaja asked them to identify themselves properly or he would refuse to answer their questions. They refused and walked out.
Mr.Alkhawaja was surprised to see a press release days later based on the testimony of a Mr. Mohammed Alahmad – Pro-government journalist- from the GONGO organization, stating that his health was fine and the that he was being treated well. The press release was released by the Ministry of Human Rights.
In protest to the manner by which the prison and the Ministry behaved, Mr.Abdulhadi Alkhawaja decided to end cooperation with the hospital clinic by refusing medical check-ups, starting Saturday 10 March. He insisted that they either be honest in relating information regarding his health or he would refuse to do the routine checkups. This further endangers his life as now his blood sugar and pressure will not be monitored.
Mr.Alkhawaja also started refusing water and glucose which resulted in the deterioration of his health and he was unable to concentrate. After three days, Mr.Alkhawaja started drinking water and taking glucose once again.
On a different note and in contrast to what the Ministry of Human Rights alleges, the Danish foreign Minister stated to a Danish Newspaper that he was worried about Mr.Alkhawaja’s health after a representative of the Danish embassy met with the activist last week.
The BYSHR demands that:
1. The international community exerts more pressure in order to secure the immediate and unconditional release of human rights defender Abdulhadi Alkhawaja before there is any further deterioration in his health
2. That the Ministry of Human Rights allow credible, international human rights organizations who have repeatedly requested to see the activist access to him in order to be able to adequately evaluate his health situation
3. That the Ministry of Human Rights refrain from using GONGO’s in order to discredit claims made by credible human rights activist
4. That the Ministry of Human Rights release accurate and precise information regarding human rights defender Mr.Abdulhadi Alkhawaja’s health situation.
05 March 2012
Abdulhadi Alkhawaja was moved to the hospital last night after the doctor insisted to do so, due to his deteriorating health. After several attempts to insert the IV needle, Alkhawaja's arm started swelling up and they had to remove the needle. He was given water and glucose and returned to prison.
29 Feb 2012
URGENT ACTION: As he enters 20th day of Hungerstrike: Lawyer warns that Alkhawaja’s health is entering a dangerous Phase
Prison CLINIC can no longer administer IV Fluids as Activists Veins are too weak
The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) calls on international human rights organizations to urgently intervene to secure the release of human rights defender Mr.Abdulhadi Alkhawaja (Previous President and acting director of the BCHR) who is to enter his 21st day of hungerstrike tomorrow. Mr.Abdulhadi Alkhawaja had began the hungerstrike demanding “Freedom or Death” on the 8th of February which followed a 1 week hungerstrike just 2 days before which aimed at highlighting the continued human rights violations taking place in Bahrain.
According to Mr.Alkhawaja’s wife, the activist can no longer tolerate sitting for longer than 10-15 minutes in the sun due to fatigue and spends most of his day lying down. Mr.Alkhawaja’s wife also states that the activist needs a hot water bottle to keep his body warm.
The activists lawyer, Mr. Mohammed Aljishi had previously stated that the hospital clinic can no longer administer IV fluids as the activists veins are too weak.
Mr. Abdulhadi Alkhawaja’s daughter, Human Rights Defender Ms.Maryam Alkhawaja, Head of Foreign Relations of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights(BCHR)as well as the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) , had previously stated that Mr.Alkhawaja was exhibiting symptoms of a person on his 60th day of hungerstrike as his Kidney had already started to get affected. He also shows signs of increasing fatigue and lack of concentration in addition to having difficulty in moving.
The activist, even in accordance to the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) that was commissioned by the King , was subject to severe torture. Numerous international human rights organizations have called for Mr.Abdulhadi Alkhawaja’s release such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Human Rights First as well as Frontline Defenders and questioned the trial procedures through which he was sentenced to life imprisonment.
The BYSHR once again calls for the immediate and unconditional release of human rights defender Mr.Abdulhadi Alkhawaja and places full responsibility for his well being on the Bahraini authorities.
Update - 28 Feb 2012
Abdulhadi Alkhawaja is now on his 19th Day of open hunger strike for freedom at the central prison of Bahrain. According to his family, Alkhawaja is not able to go out for more than 10/15 minutes, and cannot sit up for a long time. He spends most of his time laying down as his health continues to deteriorate. Prison's medics have stopped giving him IV completely as they can no longer insert the needle into his veins due to how small they've gotten.
A sit-in took place in Al Wefaq Head Quarter on Feb 27, 2012, in soilidarity with Abdulhadi Al Khawaja. Large numbers of people were present in the event including human rights and political activists. (Photos here)
Online activists planned for several days to tweet about AlKhawaja on twitter using certain hashtags at certain times aiming to make it trend worldwide and thus shed light at the plight of the country's detainees. It sounded impossible considering the small population of Bahrain but the international tweeting support helped in making it happen.
The manged to do it three times so far and to appear on World wide trending topics using #HelpKhawaja , #Hungry4BH (also documented here) and #Bahraini4Freedom. If you are on twitter you can follow @khawajastrike and join next campaign!
Update - 23 Feb 2012 - As Received from AlKhawaja's lawyer, Mr Mohamed AlJishi:
In a one-hour private visit, I met Abdulhadi Al Khawaja today in Jaw Central Prison. Signs of fatigue were clearly shown on Al Khawaja. He was pale and lost lots of weight. I sent him all the people's plea to stop the strike as they need him alive to struggle for Bahrain, and for his own risk.
Abdulhadi Al Khawaja told the lawyer: "I thank who ever stand in solidarity with me and people of Bahrain outside and inside the country. The case is not only about me. It's about all wrongfully detainees in Bahrain. My hungerstrike is a part of my Human rights defence inside jail. It's very important to focus on all detainees as I'm just a part of them. I will continue with my hunger strike till I reach my demands despite the consequences. I'm aware that freedom is expensive and we must sacrifice to gain it."
According to the lawyer, although Al Khawaja is really tired after 2 weeks of hunger strike, he is still holding his head high and smiling.
His wife, Mrs Khadija AlMousawi said that after a urine checkup to Abdulhadi, there was blood in his urine. The doctor asked him to drink juice and he does now to avoid kidney failure.
AlKhawaja is now on his 15th day of Hunger strike for Freedom or death.
During a sit-in protest in front of the UN office organized by the political societies on Feb 22, 2012 to condemn the international community's silence towards the human rights violations in Bahrain, a group of youth wore T-shirts with photo of Abdulhadi on it in support to his strike. At the night, a number of protests took place in solidarity with Alkhawaja. (see more photos here)
Imprisoned HRD AlKhawaja Calls EU to stand to their obligation to protect humanrights defenders
On a letter that he wrote to the Danish Forieng Minister, Danish-Bahrini human rights defender Alkhawaja called EU member states to take action as per the EU-Guidelines to protect human rights defender.
"As a human rights defender, regardless of being a Danish citizen, I am entitled for protection by EU member states in accordance with the EU Guidelines on the protection of human rights defenders around the world. Hence, I would suggest that the Danish authorities kindly put more efforts, in coordination with the other EU-State members, to take whatever possible action at the regional level as embassies, in Brussels institutions ad at the UN in Geneva, to address my case and the cases of other detained activists, calling for release, repartition and protection for human rights defenders in Bahrain. "
Read AlKhawaja's letter from prison here
Update - 21 Feb 2012
Abdulhadi Alkhawaja is now in his 14th day of Hunger Strike for freedom. He has lost 9 kilos, and suffered an internal bleeding due to kidneys damage.
Andrew Anderson, Front Line Defenders Deputy Director, wrote on his blog:
I know that Abdulhadi does not seek death. He is a person full of hope and love for his family and his community. But I know that he will be hugely frustrated by the ongoing death toll which has seen a teenager tortured to death and many others die from tear-gas inhalation. It seems he is seeking to force the issue in the most desperate way a prisoner can.
Update - 18 Feb 2012
Alkhawaja: “The hungerstrike allows me to shed light on human rights violations from my Prison Cell”
The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) has learnt that Human Rights Defender Mr.Abdulhadi Alkhawaja (51 years) is determined to continue in his hungerstrike until he secures his release. Family members have informed the BYSHR that although Mr. Alkhawaja was in high spirits, he looked thin and weak and had obvious problems concentrating.
Mr.Alkhawaja also confirmed that he had collapsed last Wednesday and was transferred to the Bahrain Defense Force Hospital after a sharp drop in his sugar and blood pressure. He was first transferred to the Jaw Prison clinic but when medics saw his condition they quickly called for an ambulance. He was semi unconscious when he was transported via an ambulance to the hospital where he suffered from muscle spasms. He received treatment but refused to end his hungerstrike.
It is important to note that this is the second hungerstrike the activists engages in with only 2 days in between, the first which was with the other 13 detained activists in protest to the ongoing human rights violations and which lasted for 1 week. The activist is currently in his 10th day of his second hungerstrike. This has contributed to the deterioration in is health condition.
Mr.Alkhawaja stated that he was on hungerstrike because as a human rights activist he needs to play a role in exposing human rights violations, whether he be on the inside or the outside of a prison cell. The hungerstrike aims to secure his release, but more importantly allow him the opportunity to do something inside prison to shed light on the deteriorating human rights situation in the country. He said that those who claim to defend human rights need to be prepared to make sacrifices, and that he was prepared for all possible consequences of this hungerstrike. He also wanted to highlight the plight of those prisoners of conscience still detained and shed light on their cause.
The BYSHR supports and respects Human Rights Defender Mr.Abdulhadi Alkhawaja’s decision to continue his hungerstrike and calls on the international community to stand behind him in order to secure his release and support his plight in highlighting the human rights violations happening in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
byshr.org
Update - 15 Feb 2012
Abdulhadi Alkhawaja collapsed last night due to Hunger strike "freedom or death" in continued detention. He was admitted to hospital and was given IV without his consent. According to his lawyer Mohamed AlJishi who was able to meet him today, Alkhawaja has difficulty moving, talking and seems extremely exhausted. He is continuing on his Hunger strike. The lawyer expressed worries about Abdulhadi Al Khawaja's health condition after yesterday's setback.
14 Feb 2012
The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) has learned from Human Rights Defender Mr.Abdulhadi alkhawaja’s family that his health has deteriorated today as he enters his seventh day of hunger strike for freedom. Mr.Alkhawaja began the hungerstrike on Wednesday the 8th of February, and demanded “Freedom or death” as a condition for ending his hungerstrike. He has been taken to hospital more than once in the past days due to a drop in his blood sugar.
In a phone call to the family, Mr.Alkhawaja’s brother, Mr.Salah Alkhawaja (also sentenced in the same case as Mr.Abdulhadi Alkhawaja and serving 5 years) informed them about the health condition of Mr.Abdulhadi and his intention of starting a hungerstike tonight in solidarity.
The BYSHR calls on the international community and human rights organisation to pressure the Bahraini government for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr.Abdulhadi alkhawaja.
byshr.org
Open Letter to Danish Foreign Minister
Open Letter written by Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja to Danish Foreign Minister on the eve of his hunger strike in which he demanded his freedom and that of the other detainees.
12 Feb 2012 - Abdulhadi Alkhawaja : Freedom or Death
Abdulhadi Alkhawaja has entered his 5th day on hunger strike for freedom. He was hospitalized two nights ago (Feb 10, 2012) because of his deteriorating health due to the hunger strike. On Feb 11, 2012 He refused IV and is only drinking water with glucose. Alkhawaja almost went into a coma and was admitted to the hospital on the 31st of January due to low BP and blood sugar during his earlier hunger strike. Family members and colleagues are concerned about his continued detention and hunger strike as well as his previous history with torture, and believe that his rapidly deteriorating health will be fatal.