Bahrain Mirror: Bahraini scholar and human rights activist Khalil Al-Halwachi allegedly jailed in connection with the Arab Spring protests is to appeal his 10-year prison term. Al-Halwachi claims he has been targeted for his peaceful political activism around the time of the Arab Spring uprisings and was tortured while he was held in custody in 2011.

Jack Grove indicated in an article he published on the "Times Higher Education" website that the former electrical engineering professor Al-Halwachi (59 years) was sentenced in March for possessing a Kalashnikov after more than two and a half years of detention and about 20 trial postponements since his arrest in September 2014.

The article pointed out that Al-Halwachi, activist in the Bahraini civil society and founding member of a political group, Amal, dissolved by the Arab island state in 2012, denies the charges, stating that the machine gun was planted by Bahraini security officials.

"The Imperial College London graduate claims he has been targeted for his peaceful political activism around the time of the Arab Spring uprisings in 2011. He claims he was tortured while he was held in custody in 2011 over his political links to Amal leader Sheikh Al Mahfoodh", the article read.

According to Scholars at Risk, a US-based charity that supports academics facing political oppression, Professor Al-Halwachi will appeal his conviction and sentencing on 11 May.

It says that Professor Al-Halwachi has been taken to Jau Prison since his conviction, where he has not been able to see a medical specialist nor gain access to medication despite experiencing several medical issues, including a stroke he reportedly suffered in September 2016.

In addition to reports of inappropriate access to medical care, SAR understands that Professor Al-Halwachi was momentarily held in solitary confinement and has otherwise reported overcrowding and unsanitary conditions inside the prison.

The charity is asking for supporters to send letters, emails and faxes to the appropriate authorities calling for Professor Al-Halwachi's release.

Arabic Version