Your Majesty,

I write to you out of concern for Abdulhadi al-Khawaja and the other thirteen opposition activists who are serving prison sentences in Bahrain following anti-government protests in February and March 2011.

All activists had an unfair and politically motivated trial before a military court and some of them were reportedly tortured.

I fear that many or all of the defendants may be prisoners of conscience imprisoned solely for peacefully expressing their opinions and their activism.

I therefore call on you to ensure a re-trial of the 14 before a civilian court and to immediately and unconditionally release those held solely because of their legitimate exercise of the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly.

Furthermore I urge you to immediately launch an investigation into the alleged torture and other ill-treatment of some of the defendants, to make its results public, and bring to justice anyone responsible for torture.

I thank you for your consideration in this important matter. I trust that you will look into my concerns.