Bahrain Continues Arbitrary Imprisonment of Taiba Darwish Despite Reduced Sentence

**Update: Bahraini political prisoner Taiba Darwish completed her reduced three-year sentence and was released from Isa Town Women’s Prison on Monday, 14 May 2018. On 18 April 2018, a Bahraini appeals court reduced the sentence against political prisoner Taiba Darwish from five to three years in prison. Darwish was arbitrarily imprisoned in 2016 in reprisal[…]

Bahrain’s NIHR Ignores Government Violations, Endorses Abuses in 2017 Report

19 April 2018 – In its new annual report for 2017, Bahrain’s National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) actively endorsed some of the government’s most severe abuses, including the imprisonment of leading human rights defender Nabeel Rajab. Although 2017 was one of the worst years for Bahrain’s human rights situation since 2011, the NIHR “lauded” the[…]

Analysis of the Fifth Annual Report of the Bahraini National Institution for Human Rights

Introduction and Summary Click here for the full analysis. On 28 March 2018, Bahrain’s National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR; also referred to as the B-NIHR and BNIHR) submitted its 2017 annual report “on the Progress Achieved in the Human Rights Situation” to the king. It is the NIHR’s fifth annual report since its establishment[…]

Bahrain’s Highest Military Court to Render Verdict in Civilian Case on 25 April

Bahrain’s highest military court has again adjourned the appeal of seven men – one soldier and six civilians – convicted for the alleged “formation of a terrorist cell and committing several terrorist crimes” after an unfair trial marred by reports of torture, enforced disappearance and other due process violations. The Military Court of Cassation announced[…]

Top Officials Endorse Police Campaign Against Digital Rights in Bahrain

11 April 2018 – Two weeks ago, Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior (MOI) announced it would expand efforts to suppress online criticism and arrested five individuals on charges related to “misuse of social media” or similar allegations. Bahraini state media reports indicate that the number of digital rights arrests has grown to at least 12[1] since[…]