US Senate Fails to Block $1.15 billion Arms Sale to Saudi Arabia

22 September 2016 – Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) expresses serious concern regarding the United States Senate’s decision yesterday to table a bipartisan resolution halting a $1.15 billion arms sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Senate’s failure to block this arms sale threatens to deepen US complicity in Saudi[…]

Congressional efforts to stall US arms sales to Saudi Arabia

The Pentagon announced in early August of this year that the United States (US) Department of State approved a $1.15 billion potential sale of tanks, guns, and ammunition to Saudi Arabia, which is leading an international military coalition in Yemen. Sixty-four members of the House of Representatives signed a letter later that month to push[…]

HRC33: ADHRB calls attention to discrimination against female Bedoon pop. in GCC

On 20 September, Erin Sigmon, Advocacy Assistant at ADHRB, delivered an oral intervention under the Panel Discussion on Violence against Indigenous Women and Girls at the 33rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. Please continue reading for full remarks or click here to download a PDF. Esteemed Panelists, Americans for Democracy & Human Rights[…]

Despite Tragedies, Saudi Arabia Prioritizes Profits over Pilgrims

Last week, almost 2 million people traveled to Saudi Arabia to complete the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca that every capable Muslim must carry out at least once in their lives. Despite its scheduled occurrence, the sudden influx of pilgrims poses numerous safety and security risks.  The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), during[…]

Restrictive Policies Hinder Saudi Civil Society

In countries with limited democratic processes, civil society organizations are essential outlets through which citizens engage with their communities, contribute their ideas on the state, and address domestic human rights issues. However, in Saudi Arabia authorities repress what little opportunity citizens have to participate in nongovernmental associations (NGOs) through an onerous and restrictive licensing policy[…]