On 22 September 2026, Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) delivered an intervention during the 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council under Item 4. The organization highlighted Bahrain’s continued targeting of political prisoners released under the 2024 royal amnesty by reinstating fines and threatening them with reimprisonment. ADHRB called for an end to the persecution of political prisoners after their release, full implementation of the royal amnesty, the release of those re-arrested, and guarantees of non-recurrence.
We draw the Council’s attention to Bahrain’s continued targeting of political prisoners released under the 2024 royal amnesty, by renewing demands for fines waived under the amnesty and threatening them with reimprisonment.
Six former prisoners convicted in connection with the Jau Prison events in 2015 have recently been imprisoned over fines, others risk detention if unpaid.
Human rights defender Naji Fateel, whose previous detention was deemed arbitrary by the Working Group, was released under the 2024 royal pardon after 11 years of arbitrary detention and torture, but continued to face employment and housing restrictions, summonses, and a travel ban. On 18 August 2026, at dawn, police officers forcibly raided his home and re-arrested him without presenting a warrant over a liability of around $23,700 that he cannot afford to pay, with non-payment carrying six months’ imprisonment.
We call on the Council to urge Bahrain to end the persecution of political prisoners during and after detention, provide reparations, fully implement the 2024 royal pardon, release those re-arrested, and guarantee non-recurrence.
