Bahrain’s ongoing and systematic criminalization of free expression

On March 18, Michel Forst, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, called on the Government of Bahrain to immediately release Zainab al-Khawaja and to drop all charges against her. Bahraini authorities arrested Ms. al-Khawaja, a prominent Bahraini women’s rights and social media activist, on March 14 in connection to[…]

ADHRB at HRC: Bahrain does not Cooperate with the Special Procedures

On March 16, 2016, at the 31st session of the Human Rights Council, Nedhal al-Salman, on behalf of ADHRB, BIRD, and BCHR, delivered an oral intervention during the Item 5 General Debate, in which she addressed Bahrain’s failure to cooperate with the Special Procedures, particularly concerning the treatement of children, and women human rights defenders.[…]

Survey claims Bahrain is “best country for expatriates,” ignores human rights violations

On March 12, a survey conducted by the Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) ranked Bahrain as the “best country in the world for expats.” According to the state-run Bahrain News Agency (BNA), 66 percent of those expatriates surveyed said they were “very happy” to live in the country. The BNA notes that “the kingdom[…]

ADHRB at HRC: Arbitrarily Detained Political Prisoners in Bahrain

On March 15, 2016, at the 31st session of the Human Rights Council, Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain’s (ADHRB) International Advocacy Officer Michael Payne delivered an oral intervention during the Item 4 General Debate. He spoke on behalf of ADHRB, Alsalam Foundation, the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy, and the Bahrain[…]

NGOs call for the release of activist Zainab al-Khawaja

14 March 2016 – Bahraini security forces today raided the house of human rights activist Zainab al-Khawaja and arrested her with her 15 months old son. The undersigned NGOs condemn in the strongest terms the arrest of Zainab and her son over charges merely related to her activism and exercise of free expression. On 14[…]