Sectarian Discrimination and Extremism in Bahrain’s Security Forces: Questions for US Policy

Is the United States arming extremism in Bahrain? New evidence suggests that Bahrain’s military has directly propagated sectarian hate speech – yet the Trump administration has dropped reform conditions and authorized new multibillion-dollar arms deals for the kingdom. Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain’s white paper, Sectarian Discrimination and Extremism in Bahrain’s Security Forces:[…]

Shia clerics reject sectarianism and call for equality

In response to the 2011 pro-democracy movement, Bahrain, with the help of Saudi Arabia, suppressed the protests and accused Shia Iran of meddling in Bahraini affairs, giving the protests a decidedly sectarian cast. On March 8, 2016, however, a group of 39 Bahraini Shia clerics insisted that there had never been a call for sectarianism[…]

Five Years After Crackdown on Protesters, Bahraini PM receives prize for “peace” efforts

On February 20, the Vienna-based Peace Promotion Association granted Bahrain’s Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa, the Flame of Peace Award. In receiving this award, Prince Salman becomes the first Arab premier to receive the prize. The prize was conferred in tribute for his “outstanding humanitarian role to promote global peace and boost relations between[…]