Dispatch: Loopholes in the US arms hold on Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior

In the aftermath of the Bahraini government’s violent suppression of the 2011 pro-democracy protest movement, the United States (US) temporarily suspended arms sales to the kingdom’s major security and defense institutions. A key military ally, the US purportedly sought to prevent the further use of American weapons and equipment in bloody attacks on peaceful demonstrators.[…]

Saudi activists Essam Koshak and Issa al-Nukheifi await results of postponed trials

On 29 and 30 October, Saudi Arabia tried two prominent human rights defenders, Essam Koshak and Issa al-Nukheifi respectively. Al-Nukheifi was initially arrested in 2012 after he appeared on a television program and accused Saudi authorities of corruption and human rights violations. Koshak was detained in January 2017 and accused of “inciting public opinion,” and[…]

Bahrain: Fourth Annual Report of Police Ombudsman Reveals Failure to Fulfill Mandate

On 12 September 2017, the Ombudsman for Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior (MOI) released its fourth annual report for the period of 1 May 2016 to 30 April 2017. As in its previous report, the Ombudsman’s Office re-emphasizes its autonomy from the government and greater security establishment, presenting statistics concerning the complaints of MOI malfeasance that[…]