Al-Shaikh 'Issa Bin Salman
Al Khalifa Office of His Highness the Amir
P. O. Box 555
The Amiri Court
Rifa'a Palace
Rifa'a, Bahrain
Your Highness:
We are writing out of concern over the arrest and detention of the scholar and teacher Shaikh 'Abd al-Amir Mansur al-Jamri. Shaikh al-Jamri was a teacher in an Islamic seminary, which was closed after his arrest.
The Middle East Studies Association comprises 2400 academics worldwide who teach and conduct research on the Middle East and North Africa. The association publishes the respected International Journal of Middle East Studies and is committed to ensuring respect for the principles of academic freedom and human rights throughout the region.
We understand that no reasons have been given for Shaikh al-Jamri's arrest on April 1, when he was imprisoned along with members of his family. Although his family was released on April 15, Shaikh al-Jamri remains held in incommunicado detention, still without any charges being brought. Apparently, a daughter who went to prison to visit him in al-Qal'a Prison in Manama was imprisoned and held incommunicado for three days.
Such arrests and imprisonments in the absence of any criminal charges violate fundamental norms of human rights. The treatment of Shaikh al-Jamri is of particular concern, since there is evidence suggesting that he has been targeted because of his political beliefs and for signing a petition calling for the restoration of parliament and the constitution. Such expression of political opinion is protected under international law and may not be the basis for criminal prosecution or imprisonment.
We respectfully request that an immediate investigation be undertaken to establish the basis for Shaikh al-Jamri's detention and call for his release unless there is proof of an adequate legal justification for detaining him. Meanwhile, we call for him to have family visits -- without exposing visiting family members to the risk of incarceration. We also call for allowing him assistance of legal counsel and appropriate medical treatment for his heart ailment.
Respectfully,
Anne H. Betteridge
Executive Director
cc:
Al-Shaikh Mohamed Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa
Al-Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa
Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Ghaffar Abdulla
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