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 Ambassador Appointment Draws an Even Closer Relationship between Saudi Arabia and the US

In April 2017, Saudi Arabia appointed 28-years-old Prince Khalid bin Salman as its new Ambassador to the United States of America. Prince Khalid is the son of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and the younger brother of the Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, who himself is only 32-years-old, but who is determined to radically[…]

HRC36 Bahrain Intervention: Item 4 and the Failure of the Council to Act on Bahrain

On 19 September during the 36th session of the Human Rights Council, Sam Walton delivered an oral intervention on behalf of Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain during the Item 4 General Debate. In the intervention, ADHRB expressed concern over the Council’s failure to adequately address Bahrain’s widespread and systematic human rights abuses,[…]

US State Department Releases 2016 International Religious Freedom Report on Bahrain

  On 15 August 2017, the United States (US) Department of State launched its 2016 International Religious Freedom Report. The report “provides a detailed and factual overview of the status of religious freedom in nearly 200 countries and territories, and documents reports of violations and abuses committed by governments, terrorist groups, and individuals.” Americans for[…]

US Senators call on Admin to utilize new legislation to sanction human rights violators

Washington, DC – Today, Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Senator John McCain (R-AZ) issued a press statement requesting that President Trump direct his Administration to fully utilize the Global Magnitsky Human Rights and Accountability Act. This new legislation allows for the Administration to enact sanctions against individuals or entities found to be committing gross human[…]