Trump Administration authorizes new arms sales to GCC states despite Congressional threat to block

On 13 and 16 October 2017, the United States Government approved the sale of weapons worth $371.6 million to Kuwait, stating that the sale “will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country.” These sales come amid the ongoing diplomatic crisis[…]

ADHRB Condemns Rising Use of Capital Punishment in the GCC

10 October 2017 – On the occasion of the World Day Against the Death Penalty, Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) would like to call attention toward the rising use of the death penalty in the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), in particular Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain. Saudi Arabia,[…]

Amid GCC Row, Governments across the Gulf Fail to Address Statelessness

With the diplomatic crisis embroiling the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, Saudi– and United Arab Emirates (UAE)-backed institutions have accused the Qatari government of arbitrarily revoking the citizenship of 55 members of the Al Morah (al-Murrah) tribe, including its leader, Sheikh Talib bin Mohammed bin Lahoum bin Shraim. Though it is as yet unclear if[…]

HRC35 Item 3 Intervention: Kuwait’s continued use of the kafala system

On Monday 12 June, Yusuf al-Hoori delivered an intervention in behalf of ADHRB during the 35th session of the Human Rights Council under the Item 3 Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on trafficking. In his intervention, al-Hoori raised concerns about Kuwait’s continued use of the kafala system of labor sponsorship. Please continue reading for the[…]

HRC35 Item 3 Oral Intervention: Discrimination Against Women in the GCC

On 9 June 2017, Jawad Fairooz, Director of Salam for Democracy and Human Rights, delivered an oral intervention on behalf of ADHRB and BIRD during the 35th session of the Human Rights Council’s Item 3 addressing the Working Group on Discrimination Against Women’s visit to Kuwait and the issues facing women around the GCC. Please[…]