Palestine, Normalisation and the Gulf’s Crackdown on Dissent

The sentencing of Bahraini opposition figure Ebrahim Sharif has once again drawn attention to the tightening restrictions on political expression across the Gulf. Sharif had been arrested in November 2025 by local Bahraini authorities as he returned from the Arab National Conference in Beirut. He was charged with “spreading false news” on social media and[…]

Fourteen Years of Silence: Bahrain Must Release Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja

For nearly fifteen years, Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja has endured what no human being should ever face: torture, solitary confinement, medical neglect, and the systematic attempt to break his body and spirit. Today, at 64 years old, he remains one of the region’s most respected human rights defenders, yet he is treated as if his life is[…]

State Immunity in the Age of Spyware: Bahrain’s Case Before the UK Supreme Court

A decade-old spyware operation conducted by Bahrain is now at the centre of a landmark case before the UK Supreme Court. The outcome could determine whether governments may deploy spyware against political exiles abroad while relying on state immunity to evade accountability. The claim, brought by two Bahraini dissidents who have lived in the UK[…]

Ebrahim Sharif arrested by Bahraini authorities

Ebrahim Sharif, the former Secretary-General of the National Democratic Action Society in Bahrain (Wa’ad), was arrested by Bahraini authorities, without a warrant, when he landed at Bahrain International Airport on November 12th. The prominent political activist was flying back from Beirut, Lebanon after having attended the Arab National Conference.  While there, he publicly stated his[…]

Juvenile Justice and Child Detention in Bahrain: A Crisis Behind the Walls

Bahrain’s juvenile justice system is often presented by authorities as a model of progress and reform, but in reality, experiences of children behind detention walls tell a very different story. For years, Bahrain has been criticized for the arbitrary arrest, detention, and ill-treatment of minors, especially those involved in peaceful protests. Despite the government’s enforcement[…]