ADHRB Condemns New Saudi Death Sentences in “Spying” Trial

On 6 December 2016, Saudi Arabia sentenced 15 people to death for allegedly spying for Iran. The Specialized Criminal Court in Riyadh sentenced 15 other suspects to prison terms ranging from six months to 25 years and acquitted two individuals. Of the 32 subjects, 30 are Shia, while the other two are Iranian and Afghani[…]

The Saudi Association for Civil and Political Rights’ Mohammad al-Bajadi

One year ago this month, the Saudi Association for Civil and Political Rights (ACPRA) co-founder Mohammad al-Bajadi was discharged from al-Hayer prison after serving a four-year sentence. He spent the next four months in Saudi Arabia’s notorious Mohammed bin Nayef Center for Counseling and Care, an extremist rehabilitation center, despite his lifelong record of non-violent,[…]

EVENT SUMMARY – #TriedForTweets: Social Media Activism and State Surveillance in the GCC

16 November 2016 – Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) held an event at American University in Washington, DC, on how state surveillance by Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) governments has negatively affected human rights activists and other civil society members’ social media use. ADHRB’s Advocacy Fellow, Mobashra Tazamal, hosted the event. Panelists[…]

States Should Strip Saudi of its HRC Membership Rights

On 28 October 2016, the nations of the world re-elected Saudi Arabia to a seat on the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council (HRC). Saudi won its bid to a seat on the Council by running unopposed. Regardless of the circumstances of its election, UN and HRC member states should freeze Saudi Arabia’s position on[…]

Saudi’s Re-Election to the Human Rights Council is an Insult

On Friday 28 October 2016, the 193 member states of the United Nations cast their ballots in elections for the Human Rights Council, and 152 states decided that Saudi Arabia was fit to occupy a seat. The elections were for 14 of the Council’s 47 seats, one of which Saudi will occupy as a representative[…]