Abdulhadi al-Khawaja

Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja is a prominent human rights defender and Danish citizen who was detained in 2011 in Bahrain after having been part of peaceful protests calling for fundamental freedoms in the country. He remains in prison until this day.

About Abdulhadi

Al-Khawaja is a life-long human rights defender, activist and leader, founder and former president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, co-founder of the Gulf Center for Human Rights, former MENA Protection Coordinator at Front Line Defenders, published writer and poet, Nobel Peace Prize nominee, husband, father, and grandfather.

Al-Khawaja has always believed in human rights, solidarity building, and transformational change, and he has fiercely defended his beliefs for decades. For Al-Khawaja, no person is larger than the cause, and for him, progress is obtained when we find the leader within ourselves.

Al-Khawaja’s voice remains a beacon of hope for change and he has courageously inspired others to shape their own political demands.**
Al-Khawaja is a dual Danish-Bahraini citizen. He has been in prison for over 11 years and he is in urgent need of international help. We kindly ask for your support in calling for his release.

Al-Khawaja is the winner of four prominent human rights awards:

Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders 2022

Dignity World Wihout Torture 2013

Politiken Freedom Award 2012

Freedom House Freedom Award 2012

About Abdulhadi

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latest news:

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May 16, 2023

Joint-Statement: Ensure HRD Al-Khawaja Adequate Medical Treatment and Right to Access and Respond to Allegations Made by the Government of Bahrain

The signatories call on Bahrain to ensure that human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja is allowed adequate medical treatment, as well as the right to access and respond to allegations made by the Government of Bahrain in a response to a UN communication. In a joint ...

Apr 07, 2023

Bahrain authorities subjecting prisoners to “slow death” by not providing treatment and health care, Al-Khawaja states

As previously stated, over four weeks ago, Al-Khawaja was taken to an emergency hospital due to an urgent heart issue, then denied access to a cardiologist. Al-Khawaja was subsequently denied two planned appointments, on the 19th of March, and on the 26th of March respectively...

Press release: Al-Khawaja taken to emergency hospital due to urgent heart issue, denied access to cardiologist

Mar 26, 2023

Press release: Al-Khawaja again denied access to cardiologist, despite risk of heart attack or stroke

26 March 2023 As previously stated, over three weeks ago, Al-Khawaja was taken to an emergency hospital due to an urgent heart issue, and subsequently denied access to a cardiologist. After raising pressure on the authorities both in Bahrain as well as internationally, the Ba...

Mar 24, 2023

The Notorious “Turkish Armored Vehicle”: A Symbol of Inhumane Treatment of Prisoners in Bahrain

The Turkish Armored Vehicle Description: The Turkish Armored Vehicle, also known as the “Turkish Bus,” is a notorious symbol of inhumane treatment of prisoners in Bahrain. It is primarily used to transfer prisoners from one location to another. The metal body of t...

Mar 15, 2023

International Parliamentarians’ Assembly held in Bahrain turns into a “PR disaster” amidst calls for political prisoners’ release

The Inter-Parliamentary Union’s (IPU) 146th assembly, which is taking place in Sakhir, Bahrain, from 11 to 15 March 2023, has turned into a PR disaster for the host state, exposing its imprisonment of political prisoners and the revocation of visas for Human Rights Watch resea...

Mar 07, 2023

Press release: Al-Khawaja’s urgent need for medical evacuation to Denmark builds as wait for cardiological access is prolonged

7 March 2023 As previously stated, last week Al-Khawaja was taken to an emergency hospital due to an urgent heart issue, and subsequently denied access to a cardiologist. Today, the Bahraini regime put out a public statement claiming that Al-Khawaja has been given an appointm...