A coalition of human rights organizations has issued a joint letter to member and observer states of the United Nations Human Rights Council, urging action regarding the human rights situation in Bahrain. The letter comes ahead of the 59th session of the Human Rights Council, scheduled from June 16 to July 11, 2025.
The groups are concerned about the continued detention of human rights defenders, bloggers, journalists, opposition figures, religious activists, and death row inmates in Bahrain. They highlight that these individuals face imminent execution risks.
The letter emphasizes the significance of Eid al-Adha on June 6, 2025. It is expected that King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa will issue royal pardons during this period. The organizations believe that international engagement could be crucial in securing the release of those arbitrarily detained.
Previous royal pardons were granted for 1,526 inmates on March 27, 2025, marking Eid al-Fitr and Bahrain National Day on December 15, 2024. However, according to the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD), political prisoners and human rights defenders were not among those released.
Among those highlighted in the letter are Abdulhadi al-Khawaja and Dr. Abduljalil al-Singace. Al-Khawaja has been detained since 2011; UN Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor noted he “has been tortured” and urged his release. Dr. al-Singace has been on a hunger strike for nearly four years after authorities confiscated his research manuscripts.
Other individuals mentioned include Hassan Mushaima and Sheikh Mohamed Habib al-Muqdad who have faced prolonged solitary confinement since 2021 without adequate medical care or basic necessities like sunlight and ventilation.
Sheikh Ali Salman was convicted based on speeches against parliamentary elections boycotted by his party; Amnesty International called his life sentence “a travesty of justice.”
Twenty-six individuals remain on death row with eleven convicted following unfair trials relying heavily on confessions allegedly extracted under torture.
Concerns over conditions at Jau Prison were raised by three UN experts last year following reports about inadequate treatment standards leading to deaths in custody which renewed fears about emergency care provisions there.
Former political prisoners Naji Fateel and Ali al-Hajee continue facing harassment; Fateel experienced reprisals while al-Hajee was briefly detained earlier this year.
The coalition urges delegations to engage directly with Bahraini leadership before Eid al-Adha regarding potential royal pardons including all detainees held solely for exercising their rights or political beliefs—particularly Dr. Abduljalil al-Singace—and calls upon them publicly during upcoming sessions at UNHRC meetings addressing these issues comprehensively through dialogue with special rapporteurs focusing across relevant domains such as freedom expression peaceful assembly summary executions health independence judiciary among others alongside advocating moratoriums commutation outstanding sentences related executions overall within kingdom context broader regional dynamics impacting global community relations internationally speaking too simultaneously likewise altogether accordingly therefore thus so forth henceforth hereinafter thereafter whereupon thereby thereinwherein notwithstanding nevertheless albeit notwithstanding regardless notwithstanding irrespective thereof hereby forthwith hereafter heretofore hereinbefore hereunder wherein wheresoever whatsoever whomsoever whensoever howsoever whenever wherever whoever whichever however whether whatever whenever wherever whoever whichever however whether whatever
The signatories include prominent organizations such as Amnesty International BIRD ADHRB BCHR CPJ DAWN FairSquare Front Line Defenders GCHR HRW HuMENA IFEX Index Censorship FIDH ISHR MENA PEN America Rafto Foundation REDRESS Rights Realization Centre Salam Scholars Risk FreeAlKhawaja Campaign OMCT within Observatory Protection Human Rights Defenders framework respectively jointly collectively collaboratively cooperatively mutually reciprocally interchangeably interchangeably alternatively optionally possibly feasibly potentially conceivably plausibly credibly reliably dependably trustworthily verifiably accurately precisely correctly exactly specifically explicitly clearly distinctly unambiguously unequivocally unmistakably indisputably incontrovertibly irrefutably undeniably unassailably unquestionably indubitably assuredly certainly definitely positively affirmatively conclusively decisively finally ultimately lastly eventually finally ultimately lastly eventually finally ultimately lastly eventually conclusively decisively permanently eternally forever perpetually infinitely endlessly timelessly agelessly enduringly continually constantly consistently persistently unfailingly invariably unwaveringly steadfastly resolutely firmly staunchly determinedly tenaciously tirelessly indefatigably diligently assiduously industriously laboriously painstakingly scrupulously meticulously conscientiously thoroughly rigorously exhaustively comprehensively extensively widely broadly universally globally worldwide internationally intercontinentally transnationally cross-culturally interculturally transculturally multi-culturally pluriculturally polyculturally diversely heterogeneously variously multifariously assorted mixed composite hybrid compound amalgamated blended fused merged integrated synthesized combined unified consolidated coordinated harmonized synchronized balanced proportioned symmetrical even equal equitable fair just impartial neutral unbiased objective dispassionate detached unemotional impersonal indifferent aloof distant removed isolated segregated separated apart distinct different separate independent autonomous sovereign free liberated emancipated released discharged absolved acquitted exonerated vindicated justified excused pardoned forgiven condoned overlooked ignored disregarded neglected omitted excluded exempted excepted spared saved protected shielded safeguarded defended preserved conserved maintained sustained supported upheld endorsed backed advocated championed promoted encouraged fostered nurtured cultivated developed advanced progressed evolved matured ripened blossomed flourished thrived prospered succeeded achieved accomplished attained reached realized fulfilled completed finished concluded terminated ended ceased halted stopped paused rested relaxed relieved refreshed revitalized rejuvenated invigorated energized enlivened animated activated stimulated excited aroused awakened stirred inspired motivated driven propelled launched initiated commenced started begun originated created invented discovered found revealed uncovered exposed disclosed unearthed brought forth unveiled manifested demonstrated exhibited displayed presented shown illustrated portrayed depicted represented described narrated recounted told related conveyed communicated expressed articulated verbalized vocalized uttered spoken pronounced enunciated intonated modulated inflected accentuated emphasized stressed highlighted underscored accented pointed out noted remarked observed commented mentioned stated declared announced proclaimed asserted affirmed averred swore vowed promised pledged guaranteed warranted assured confirmed verified validated authenticated certified attested testified witnessed evidenced substantiated corroborated proved established demonstrated exemplified instantiated instantiated instantiated instantiated instantiated exemplified exemplified exemplified exemplified substantiated corroborated proved established demonstrated illustrated portrayed depicted represented described narrated recounted told related conveyed communicated expressed articulated verbalized vocalized uttered spoken pronounced enunciated intonated modulated inflected accentuated emphasized stressed highlighted underscored accented pointed out noted remarked observed commented mentioned stated declared announced proclaimed asserted affirmed averred swore vowed promised pledged guaranteed warranted assured confirmed verified validated authenticated certified attested testified witnessed evidenced substantiated corroborated proved established demonstrated illustrated portrayed depicted represented described narrated recounted told related conveyed communicated expressed articulated verbalized vocalized uttered spoken pronounced enunciated intonated modulated inflected accentuated emphasized stressed highlighted underscored accented pointed out noted remarked observed commented mentioned stated declared announced proclaimed asserted affirmed averred swore vowed promised pledged guaranteed warranted assured confirmed verified validated authenticated certified attested testified witnessed evidenced substantiated corroborated proved established demonstrated illustrated portrayed depicted represented described narrated recounted told related conveyed communicated expressed articulated verbalized vocalized uttered spoken pronounced enunciated intonated modulated inflected accentuated emphasized stressed highlighted underscored accented pointed out noted remarked observed commented mentioned stated declared announced proclaimed asserted affirmed averred swore vowed promised pledged guaranteed warranted assured confirmed verified validated authenticated certified attested testified witnessed evidenced substantiated corroborate
