Diraz: A Community Under Siege

13 July 2016 – On 20 June, Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior revoked the nationality of Sheikh Isa Qassim, the spiritual leader of Bahrain’s Shia community, rendering him stateless. In response, hundreds of demonstrators began a peaceful sit-in around Sheikh Qassim’s home in the village of Diraz, where he also preaches. Since then, the authorities have[…]

Bahraini government continues to target civil society for human rights work

On 11 July 2016, prominent political activist Ebrahim Sharif completed his one-year prison sentence and was released from Bahrain’s Jau Prison. The Government of Bahrain arrested Sharif on 12 July 2015 for a speech he gave and later charged him with “inciting hatred.” Prosecutors are now seeking to extend Sharif’s sentence for the same charges[…]

Bahrain Extends Arbitrary Detention of BCHR’s President Nabeel Rajab, Court Postpones His Trial to 2 August

12 July 2016 – The High Criminal Court today postponed the trial of prominent Human Rights Defender Nabeel Rajab, President of Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), to 2 August 2016. The judge refused his lawyers’ request of release, thus he will remain detained pending his trial. The undersigned NGOs strongly condemn the persecution of[…]

A Victim’s Crime: Forced Prostitution in the UAE

The majority of women working as prostitutes in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are victims of human or sex trafficking; some are victims of both. Prostitution is an established and growing industry in the country, with the Guardian reporting in 2010 that an estimated 30,000 prostitutes worked in the emirate of Dubai alone. There are[…]

An Overview of ADHRB Engagement at the 32nd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council

From 13 June to 1 July 2016, Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) took part in the 32nd Session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva, Switzerland to raise awareness of human rights abuses in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.  During the Session,[…]