The Trial of the 94

Although the UAE is rarely mentioned in relation to the Arab Spring, Emiratis did not remain silent in 2011. A group of activists petitioned the president to call for democracy, an elected parliamentary body, and legislative powers for the Federal National Council. A majority of the petitioners belonged to an Islamist organization called al-Islah, which[…]

NGOs Express Concern for Arbitrary Detention of Outstanding Student

20 July 2015 – Geneva, Switzerland – Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) and the Bahrain Institute for Rights & Democracy (BIRD) are concerned with the arbitrary detention of 18-year-old student Mustafa Mohammed Ali in Bahrain. We are also concerned by reports that Mustafa’s arbitrary conviction will prevent him from receiving his[…]

July Champions for Justice: Bahrain’s Death Row Prisoners

In Bahrain, political dissidence can be punishable by death. The Government of Bahrain employ the threat of capital punishment as a means of political intimidation. Between 2011 and 2014, Bahraini courts handed down 11 death sentences; in the last six months, they have handed down at least four more. Disproportionately, these sentences have been based[…]

Michael Payne Delivers Oral Intervention on Cooperation between Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and OHCHR at HRC29

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tWt6_CGmWA&feature=youtu.be On July 1 2015, ADHRB International Advocacy Officer Michael Payne participated in an Item 10 General Debate on the cooperation between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) at the 29th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. Please continue reading for full remarks[…]

ADHRB Expresses Concern on Use of Anti-Terror Legislation to Criminalize Free Speech in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia

On 30 June 2015, ADHRB’s International Advocacy Officer Michael Payne delivered a statement on human rights in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia during an interactive panel discussion on human rights and combating terrorism at the 29th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Please continue reading for full remarks or click here to download a PDF. الرجاء[…]