Survey claims Bahrain is “best country for expatriates,” ignores human rights violations

On March 12, a survey conducted by the Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) ranked Bahrain as the “best country in the world for expats.” According to the state-run Bahrain News Agency (BNA), 66 percent of those expatriates surveyed said they were “very happy” to live in the country. The BNA notes that “the kingdom[…]

ADHRB at HRC: Arbitrarily Detained Political Prisoners in Bahrain

On March 15, 2016, at the 31st session of the Human Rights Council, Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain’s (ADHRB) International Advocacy Officer Michael Payne delivered an oral intervention during the Item 4 General Debate. He spoke on behalf of ADHRB, Alsalam Foundation, the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy, and the Bahrain[…]

ADHRB at HRC: Executions in Saudi Arabia

On March 15, 2016 at the 31st session of the Human Rights Council, on behalf of Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain and the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights, Ali Aldubaisi delivered an Item 4 General Debate oral intervention on executions in Saudi Arabia. Please continue reading for his full remarks, or[…]

Kuwaiti MP faces lawsuit for “Insulting Comments” about Saudi Arabia

A Kuwaiti Member of Parliament, Abdul-Hamid Dashti, is currently facing a “homeland security lawsuit” for allegedly insulting the “administration and leaders” of Saudi Arabia during a televised speech.  On 13 March, Kuwait’s National Assembly approved a claim to lift Dashti’s parliamentary immunity so that the lawsuit could proceed. Although he will still be allowed to[…]

Bahrain acquits security officers of torture, sentences Shia cleric for free speech

On Monday March 7, Bahrain’s Second High Criminal Court commuted the sentence of a police officer, convicted of beating a prisoner, from two years to three months. That same day another Bahraini court upheld the August 25, 2014 verdict acquitting nine police officers charged in May 2013 with assaulting, beating, and torturing 13 prisoners. The[…]