US State Department Releases 2016 International Religious Freedom Report on Bahrain

  On 15 August 2017, the United States (US) Department of State launched its 2016 International Religious Freedom Report. The report “provides a detailed and factual overview of the status of religious freedom in nearly 200 countries and territories, and documents reports of violations and abuses committed by governments, terrorist groups, and individuals.” Americans for[…]

HRC35 Item 6 Oral Intervention: Bahrain’s Refusal to Implement UPR Recommendations

On 19 June 2017, ADHRB’s Advocacy Associate delivered an intervention on behalf of ADHRB during the Item 6 debate during the 35th session of the Human Rights Council. In his intervention, Pry raised concerns over Bahrain’s failure to implement its past UPR recommendations, including concerning freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and the death penalty.[…]

Sheikh Isa Qassim: NGOs call on US, UK, UN and EU for Public Action Before 7 May Trial

Ahead of the trial of Sheikh Isa Qassim on Sunday 7 May 2017, Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) and five other NGOs wrote today to the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, and United Nations calling for urgent public action. The politically motivated trial of Sheikh Isa Qassim constitutes a violation of[…]

Trial of Sheikh Isa Qassim to reconvene early next week

On Sunday, 7 May 2017, Bahraini courts will reconvene for another hearing in the trial of Sheikh Isa Qassim. Sheikh Qassim is one of the most prominent spiritual leaders in Bahrain, and he has been targeted by government authorities for traditional Shia practices. In June 2016, amidst a wave of harsh civil and political repression[…]

USCIRF Categorizes Bahrain as a Tier 2 Violator of Religious Freedom

26 April 2017 – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has today released its 2017 Annual Report, categorizing Bahrain as a Tier 2 country for the first time “due to deteriorating religious freedom conditions.” Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) welcomes USCIRF’s continued documentation of religious discrimination in Bahrain[…]