HRC40 Written Statement: The Targeting of Human Rights Defenders in the GCC

Ahead of the 40th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain submitted a written statement to the Council raising serious concern over the targeting of Human Rights Defenders in Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Continue reading for the text of the statement or click here for a PDF.[…]

ADHRB Commemorates February 14 and Calls for Action from the International Community, US, and UK

14 February 2019 – Today marks the eighth anniversary of the mass pro-democracy movement in Bahrain, when tens of thousands of Bahraini citizens peacefully demonstrated around the country, calling for democratic reform and respect for human rights. However, as we commemorate this day, we condemn the Bahraini government’s violent suppression of the movement and its[…]

UAE upholds Rights Defender Ahmed Mansoor’s 10-year prison sentence

31 December 2018 – Today, the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) Federal Supreme Court upheld prominent human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor’s 10-year prison sentence. As a result of the rejection of Mansoor’s appeal, he will serve out his prison sentence in the Emirates’ Al-Wathba prison, where he has been held in solitary confinement since his arrest[…]

Nabeel Rajab Faces 5 Years in Prison as Bahrain’s Court of Cassation Rejects his Final Appeal

31 December 2018 – Today, Bahrain’s Court of Cassation, its court of last resort, denied prominent Bahraini human rights defender Nabeel Rajab’s appeal and upheld his five-year prison sentence for tweets and re-tweets critical of the Bahraini government and its policies. With the decision, Nabeel has exhausted all legal remedies to reverse the charges, and[…]

A Repressive Holiday Tradition in the Arab Gulf

28 December 2018 – This post was updated to reflect new information regarding the appeal trial of United Arab Emirates (UAE) human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor, which was postponed to New Year’s Eve. 20 December 2018 – Over the last several years, states in the Arab Gulf, especially Bahrain, have looked to Western holidays as[…]