22. februar 2012, 14:49 – opdateret 22. februar 2012, 15:10

A Danish citizen jailed for life in Bahrain has pleaded with Minister of Foreign Affairs Villy Søvndal to intervene.

In a personal letter from prison, where he’s on a hunger strike and, according to human rights organisations, has been tortured, former asylum-seeker Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, who resided in Denmark between 1989 and 2001 and was granted citizenship before returning home to his native country, asks why Denmark hasn't queried the circumstances surrounding his sentence for allegedly leading an insurgency against the Bahrain regime. He writes:

"I would appreciate it if Denmark took steps to investigate the numerous atrocities I've been exposed to and the legitimacy of my imprisonment." At the same time he urges Mr Søvndal and the Danish authorities to coordinate with other EU states to protect and fight for the release of others 'who've been unjustly imprisoned in Bahrain'.

Mr al-Khawaja claims that whilst in Denmark he experienced a social and political system that has inspired his work for democracy and human rights in Bahrain. He's been on hunger strike for 14 days and his daughter has expressed concern that his 'rapidly deteriorating condition could become fatal'.

Mr Søvndal has previously stated that the Danish authorities are 'extremely concerned about the unacceptable treatment'.