His Majesty Shaikh Hamad bin ‘Issa Al Khalifa

King of Bahrain

Office of His Majesty the King

P.O. Box 555

Rifa’a Palace

al-Manama

Bahrain







Your Majesty,



I am writing to urge you to end the trials of scores of civilians, including health workers, opposition and human rights activists, and teachers, before military courts in Bahrain and to release all those detained solely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly.



I am not aware of any evidence that the accused in these high profile trials used or advocated violence and many of them have alleged that they were tortured in custody. I am concerned that many of the defendants may be prisoners of conscience detained solely for participating in anti-government demonstrations in February and March 2011, for publicly criticizing the actions of the security forces to repress them or for providing medical assistance to people injured during the protests.



I am appealing to you to release all individuals detained for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly immediately and unconditionally and to set up promptly a full, independent and impartial investigation into all allegations of torture and other ill-treatment, to make its results public and to ensure that all those responsible for such acts are brought to justice. Finally, I would like to urge you to end the practice of trying civilians before military courts.



Yours sincerely