A leading Bahraini human rights defender and the heads of two global rights groups have been prevented from boarding a flight to Manama, where they intended to try to get access to her father, one of Bahrain’s most prominent political prisoners.
“We were told they were not allowed to board us. Despite my being a Bahraini citizen, I was told I have to speak to Bahraini immigration … effectively we’re being denied boarding by British Airways on behalf of the Bahraini government,” said Maryam al-Khawaja, flanked by the head of Amnesty International, Agnès Callamard, and the acting head of Front Line Defenders, Olive Moore, in the departure area of Heathrow airport.
“It’s incredibly disappointing. This may have been my last chance to see my dad,” al-Khawaja said in a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, before becoming tearful.
Her father, the longtime human rights defender Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, has been imprisoned in Bahrain’s Jau prison for more than 12 years. His family fear that he could soon die behind bars, after prolonged denial of medical treatment for a heart condition. They also say he is at risk of going blind after being denied vital medication this week.
Al-Khawaja said the trip was a last-ditch attempt to save her father’s life and carried the risk that she would be arrested on arrival in Manama due to several outstanding convictions in absentia, including charges that carry a life sentence.
“I know that going back means that I might end up spending the rest of my life in prison, but I’m doing this because I feel that I have no other options left … I can no longer sit around and wait for that call that tells me my father has died in prison,” she said.
The Gulf island of Bahrain has one of the highest incarceration rates per capita in the Middle East, including an estimated 1,200 prisoners of conscience, according to the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (Bird). Many, including Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, were detained for their role in pro-democracy protests which swept the kingdom in 2011.
Sayed Alwadaei, the advocacy director at Bird, said: “This blatant violation of the right to return to your country was a breach that took place in full view of international observers and press. One can only imagine what happens to those behind bars for whom their abuses go unnoticed.”
A Bahraini government spokesperson said: “The kingdom of Bahrain welcomes all visitors, provided they meet the necessary entry requirements. However, as with other countries, Bahrain reserves the right to refuse entry, if deemed necessary.”
Abdulhadi al-Khawaja is on hunger strike after more than 800 other prisoners inside Jau prison suspended their weeks-long efforts to refuse food over demands including access to proper medical treatment.
Bahrain’s crown prince, Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, visited Washington this week to sign an agreement on defence and technology with the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken.