Bahrain has normalized its state of emergency to silence dissent

In February 2011, tens of thousands of Bahrainis demonstrated across the country, advocating for a greater political voice and respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights. The Bahraini government responded to these peaceful demonstrations by declaring a state of emergency and instituting martial law. In the ensuing weeks and months, government security forces used violence[…]

US State Department Cites Bahrain’s Political Repression as Major Risk Factor for Instability

The Bureau of Counterterrorism and Countering Violent Extremism (CT) at the United States (US) Department of State released its Country Reports on Terrorism for 2017 yesterday, 19 September 2018. While the Bahrain country report again fails to address how key tenets of the kingdom’s anti-terror framework violate international law and are used to suppress nonviolent[…]

ADHRB Strongly Condemns the Arbitrary Imprisonment of Female Bahraini Activist Najah Ahmed Yousif for Social Media Posts

26 June 2018 – Yesterday, Bahrain’s Fourth Criminal court sentenced female activist Najah Ahmed Yousif to three years in prison on charges relating to free expression. Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) strongly condemns the arrest and sentencing of Najah Ahmed Yousif and calls on the Government of Bahrain to overturn Yousif’s[…]

ADHRB Condemns Unfair Trial, Imminent Executions in Bahrain

21 May 2018 – The Court of Cassation, Bahrain’s highest court, today confirmed the sentences against twelve men convicted for alleged terror offenses in an unfair trial marred by reports of torture and other due process violations. Two of the individuals were sentenced to death and are now at imminent risk of execution. Americans for[…]

USCIRF Recognizes Wide-Ranging Abuse of Bahraini Shia in Tier 2 Re-Designation

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has today released its 2018 Annual Report, categorizing Bahrain as a Tier 2 country “for engaging in or tolerating religious freedom violations that meet at least one of the elements of the ‘systematic, ongoing, egregious’ standard for designation as a ‘country of particular concern,’ or CPC,[…]