Oman Closes Yemeni Border Crossings

According to Yemeni security officials, Oman has closed its border crossings with the country out of fear of attacks by militants associated with the Islamic State. The officials reported that the Omani government had actually instituted this policy earlier this year, but did not provide an exact date. With the exception of the Sana’a airport,[…]

Canada Continues with Saudi Arms Deal Despite Executions, Human Rights Abuses in Yemen

Canada condemned the execution of Shia cleric and political activist Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, and the country’s foreign affairs minister, Stéphane Dion, asked Saudi Arabia to observe and respect basic human rights. The Canadian minister questioned the Saudi government’s regard for human rights as well. However, the Government of Canada announced that it will still allow[…]

Saudi Arabia’s Human Rights Record in 2015

2015 was a watershed year for human rights in Saudi Arabia. It began last January, with the death of a cautious king whose experiments with limited reforms ended with the Arab Spring. It draws to a close now, having witnessed a near-record setting spate of executions, worsening repression of reformers and political dissidents, and a[…]

Newsletter #128

                    Bahrain | Updates from the Ground | News & Opinion Saudi Arabia | Other Gulf States | UN Complaint Program Bahrain End Impunity: Violence against Journalists in Bahrain   Yesterday marked the anniversary of the 2013 murder of two French journalists in Mali. To commemorate their loss,[…]

Irritated Profits: Lockheed and Boeing Downplay Human Rights Violations in Yemen

Defense contractors Lockheed Martin and Boeing remain committed to supplying Saudi-led coalition forces with arms despite strong evidence of human rights abuses caused by the bombing campaign in Yemen.  At the recent Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference in Washington DC, Lockheed executive Ronald L. Perrilloux Jr. and Boeing vice president Jeffrey Kohler emphasized the importance of the[…]