Emirati Activist Ahmed Mansoor Spends 100 Days in Prison

This week marks 100 days of blogger and pro-democracy activist Ahmed Mansoor’s arbitrary imprisonment in the United Arab Emirates. Having been awarded the Martin Ennals Award for his exceptional work as a human rights defender, Mansoor is one of the most prominent activists in the Gulf region. On 20 March 2017, Mansoor was accused of[…]

Profiles in Persecution: Ali Jasim al Ghanemi

The Government of Bahrain has targeted numerous internationally renowned human rights defenders in reprisal for their work. Many, including Nabeel Rajab and Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, are known around the world, with their cases documented by human rights organizations, governments, and the United Nations. However, the Bahraini government’s attack on peaceful dissent and opposition has cast a[…]

HRC35 Item 5 Oral Intervention: Bahrain’s Refusal to Cooperate with Rapporteurs

On 16 June 2017, ADHRB’s International Advocacy Officer, Michael Payne, delivered an oral intervention on behalf of ADHRB and BIRD during the 35 session of the Human Rights Council’s Item 5 debate. In his intervention, Payne raised concerns about the number of states that refuse to actively cooperate with the Special Procedures, like Bahrain. Bahrain[…]

Bahrain Arbitrarily Arrests Lawyer After Qatar Lawsuit

**Update 15 June 2017 – Bahraini media reports confirm that the Ministry of Interior’s Anti-Cybercrime Directorate arrested Isa Faraj Al Bou Rashid for “posting contents that amounted to inciting hatred against the Bahrain government and for other violations punishable under the law” after he discussed his legal challenge against the blockade of Qatar on social media[…]

NGOs send letter to UN on 1-year anniversary of the arrest of Nabeel Rajab

Today,13 June 2017, 14 international human rights NGOs sent letters to all UN Member and Observer states urging them to call for the immediate release of Nabeel Rajab and all charges against him dropped. The Bahraini government has brought two cases against Rajab, one for tweet and one for media interviews. Bahraini authorities have subjected Rajab[…]