Despite the release of several activists and human rights defenders, transitional justice in Bahrain remains unfulfilled.
In its newly published report, Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) reveals a systematic policy by Bahraini authorities designed to restrict the freedoms of released individuals and deprive them of their basic rights.
The attached report identifies a consistent pattern of post-release violations, illustrated through four emblematic cases. These cases demonstrate how released activists continue to face restrictions on employment, housing, and movement, as well as repeated security summonses and veiled threats—rendering their freedom conditional and tightly monitored. The report documents the following cases:
- Naji Fateel: A human rights defender who spent 11 years in prison and endured torture. Since his release, he has been barred from employment and travel, and has faced repeated security summonses.
- Mohamed AlSankis: A former government employee and prisoner of conscience. Despite serving 11 years in prison, he has not been reinstated to his position and continues to face harassment for peacefully demanding his right to work and receive a pension.
- Ali AlHajee: A human rights defender released under Bahrain’s Alternative Sentencing Law. He remains under a travel ban and was re-arrested after requesting a clearance document. He has been charged under vague legal provisions, apparently in retaliation for his activism.
- Najah Yusuf: A former civil servant and activist imprisoned over Facebook posts, with confessions extracted under torture. Following her release, she received no compensation, was unjustly dismissed from her job, and remains under ongoing security surveillance.
The documented cases make clear that release does not signify freedom for Bahraini activists and human rights defenders, but rather extends the cycle of punishment. In the absence of a transitional justice process—one that guarantees accountability, redress, and compensation for past abuses—they remain subject to security targeting and restrictions on freedom of expression through summonses and harassment. These practices violate both the Bahraini Constitution and international human rights law.
Husain Abdulla, Executive Director of ADHRB: “This isn’t reintegration – it’s retaliation, just dressed up to look nice for the international community. The reality is that stripping activists of their rights post-release isn’t reform. It’s just punishment by another name.”
In concluding its report, ADHRB stresses that meaningful reform must begin with the removal of these restrictions, the full restoration of rights, and the provision of effective remedies and reparations—paving the way for real transitional justice for those released.
Download the full report here: Post-Release Restrictions- Systematic Violations Against Bahraini Activists
