Newsletter #104

Norway Calls for Nabeel Rajab’s Immediate Release from Prison in Bahrain

‘The Norwegian authorities call for the release of human rights defender Nabeel Rajab,’ said State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bård Glad Pedersen.

Mr Rajab, who met the political leadership of Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in September 2014, has been imprisoned several times following accusations of having publicly insulted the Bahraini authorities on social media and having participated in and encouraged unauthorised demonstrations. Support for human rights defenders is an important priority for the Ministry.

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More from ADHRB

45 Members of Congress Send Letter to President Obama Concerning Human Rights in Bahrain & Saudi Arabia
ADHRB Announces Representation in Geneva
Assessing the Proposed Arab Court on Human Rights
May Champions for Justice: The Bahrain 13

Click here to jump to news on Saudi Arabia

Updates from the Ground in Bahrain

  • 37 people arrested, including 4 children
  • 188 trials postponed
  • Detention of human rights defenders Nabeel Rajab and Jalila AlSayed extended
  • Security forces continue to use excessive force including tear gas and shotgun pellets against protesters

Click here for the full report.

Bahrain News and Opinion

Bahrain upholds 6 month sentence for prominent activist over tweet

An appeals court in Bahrain upheld a six-month jail sentence against Nabeel Rajab for a tweet deemed insulting to the kingdom’s security establishment

Lawmakers urge Obama to raise human rights issues with Gulf leaders

Bipartisan group of 45 congressional leaders urged President Obama to push GCC leaders to reform their human rights practices.

Nabeel Rajab jail sentence shows Bahrain authorities will not tolerate peaceful critics

Appeal verdict demonstrates the Bahraini authorities’ complete disregard for the right to freedom of expression, says Amnesty International

Arabic Sources

Abdulwahab Hussain Denied Medical Treatment in Prison

Please click here for a PDF of this article in English

Jalila al-Sayed Detention Renewed for the Seventh Time

Please click here for a PDF of this article in English

Saudi Arabia

Event Summary: The Evasion of Equality Discrimination Against Women in Saudi Arabia

On 15 May 2015, Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB), in coordination with Human Rights First, hosted a panel entitled, “The Evasion of Equality: Discrimination against Women in Saudi Arabia.” The panel examined the evolution of gender equality and the rights of women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including analysis on the guardianship system. The panel was moderated by Norah Ali, ADHRB’s Saudi Advocacy Associate, and composed of Ebtihal Mubarak, a Brooklyn-based Saudi journalist, Dr. Hala al-Dosari, an activist and health researcher, and Dr. Shadi Mokhtari, a professor at American University.

Read the full summary here.

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News from Saudi Arabia

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