• Abdul-Hadi was unlawfully sentenced to one year imprisonment
• Amnesty International Delegate : Abdul-Hadi is a prisoner of conscience and his arrest was arbitrary
• Thanks to all who have helped to free Abdul-Hadi and other detainees

On Sunday 21st November 2004 Abdul-Hadi Al-Khuwaja, the prisoner of conscience, was sentenced to one year imprisonment for criticizing the Prime Minister ands his government and holding him responsible for economic woes and for human rights violations where he called for the resignation of the Prime Minister.
Abdul-Hadi refused to attend the session as he believed that the court is unconstitutional and politically driven. The Penal Code of 1976 that he was charged with was passed in the absence of Parliament and during ‘National Security Act’ era. Therefore, this law is considered unconstitutional. The UN and many human rights organizations discard this law.
Abdul-Hadi was not present when the verdict was handed down on him. He was on a hunger strike. Nevertheless, hundreds of Abdul-Hadi’s supporters were outside the court demanding his immediate and unconditional release and to restore the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights.

• Amnesty International Representative :
Amnesty International representative, Joanna Oyediram, attended the final verdict court session as an observer. She stated that Abdul-Hadi is considered as a ‘Prisoner of Conscience’ and that his arrest violated human rights standards especially article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Right that grants the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
‘We are here to defend Abdul-Hadi’s right to freedom of expression; right to criticizing the government is one of these rights’, she commented. She considered today’s sentence as a ‘setback’ and that Amnesty International will seek immediate and unconditional release of Abdul-Hadi.
‘Arresting and sentencing Abdul-Hadi under article 165 of the Penal Code is not incompliance with the international standards.
In regards to the dissolution of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, Ms. Oyediram stated that the Centre was closed down without given any known detailed reasons to justify the dissolution.

• Release of Abdul-Hadi :
Few hours later, His Majesty King Hamad issued a royal decree last night pardoning Abdul Hadi Al Khawaja from spending the rest of his sentence in jail, to suffice with the period he spent in jail before issuing this decree. The King also ordered the release of 13 people who were arrested last month during a car parade in support of Al Khawaja.
To this effect, Abdul-Hadi received a hero welcome from his supporters. He was taken home in a ‘Car Parade’ from Howdh Al-Jaf detention centre to his place of residence, Al-Deh, where he received a hero welcome by thousands of cheerful supporters.

• Thanks to All :
We would like to take this opportunity to extend our gratitude to all those who have contributed in releasing Abdul-Hadi Al-Khuwaja and other recent prisoners of conscience in Bahrain. We still seek your help to restore the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights which was unlawfully dissolved by the authorities.
Thanks once again and we do appreciate your contributions to promote human rights around the world; we really do.

The Solidarity Committee with Abdul-Hadi
Bahrain - Update - 22nd November 2004

المجد للمقاومة

لا أعرف لماذا كنت متأكدا أن شوكة عبد الهادي الخواجة وصحبه لا تكسر فأنا أجهل تقريبا كل شيء عن البحرين وأهله ولكن كلام الرجل، الذي بلغني بالصدفة، لا يمكن أن يصدر إلا من قلب ينبض صدقا ووطنية : "الفقر يتفشى في البحرين ويتوجب على رئيس الوزراء أن يستقيل من منصبه فهو مسؤول عنه وعاجز عن الحد منه"
لا يرمى بأحد في السجن لأنه قال كلاما كهذا ولا يحل مركز لحقوق الإنسان لأنه استضاف ندوة حول الفقر إلا في وطننا العربي... الكبير جدا بقمعه والضيق جدا على أصحاب الرأي المخالف.
ويساق عبد الهادي إلى السجن كما كان متوقعا وتلوكه ألسنة السوء من المرتزقة ويزج بمن تضامن معه في المعتقلات وتمارس كل أنواع الترهيب على نشطاء حقوق الإنسان... وتبكي الأمهات والزوجات... وتحرم العائلات من فرحة العيد... ويزداد إصرار عبد الهادي على وجاهة موقفه ليخرج منتصرا في النهاية.
هل تعرفون لما نجح عبد الهادي الخواجة حين فشل غيره :
- لأنه لا يُساوم ويعرف حق المعرفة أنه جمرة بين أيدي جلاديه.
- لأنه يرفض التزييف وحضور المحاكم الصورية.
- لأنه آثر الموت جوعا وعطشا على أن يسقى الذل والهوان والإستكانة.
- لأن ضربة الجلاد علمته أن يمشي على جرحه ويُقاوم...
شكرا لك يا عبد الهادي على الدرس والمجد لك ولكل من تضامن معك في البحرين.

ملاحظة : أرسلت هذه الكلمات البسيطة للإخوة في لجنة التضامن مع الحقوقي الخواجة، ساعات قليلة بعد صدور العفو عن عبد الهادي الخواجة وجميع المعتقلين، إعترافا لهم بالجميل على التضحيات الجسام التي قدموها بسخاء لا ينبض في سبيل إعلاء كلمة الحق. وقد مكننا الإخوة في اللجنة برحابة صدر لا توصف من تتبع كامل تداعيات ندوة الفقر لحظة بلحظة ولم يبخلوا علينا بمعلومة واحدة ونحن ممنونون لهم بذلك. تهانينا الحارة مجددا لمناضلي الحرية وحقوق الإنسان في دولة البحرين الشقيقة.