Your Majesty,

I write to you out of concern for Abdulhadi al-Khawaja and the other twelve opposition activists convicted in the same case. All 13 are serving prison sentences in Bahrain following anti-government protests in February and March 2011.

In protest of his sentence Abdulhadi al-Khawaja has been on hunger strike and his health has deteriorated substantially.

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

Amnesty International believes that none of the 13 used or advocated violence during the popular protests of February and March 2011 and no such evidence was shown by the authorities during the trial.

Amnesty International accordingly considers the 13 to be prisoners of conscience imprisoned solely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

I therefore urge you to release Abdulhadi al-Khawaja and the other 12 opposition activists immediately and unconditionally.

Furthermore I ask you to immediately launch an independent investigation into the alleged torture and other ill-treatment of al-Khawaja and others, to make its results public, and to 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.