Nabeel Rajab Speech to Oslo Freedom Forum Delivered In Absentia
Nabeel Rajab, one of Bahrain’s leading human rights defenders and the President of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), was set to deliver the following speech at the 2015 Oslo Freedom Forum. However, Rajab is currently imprisoned on spurious charges, including some linked to his tweets. Instead, the speech was read out by BCHR Vice President Said Yousif Almuhafdha on his behalf.
My name is Nabeel Rajab, and I am writing to you from my island country Bahrain, where I am in a prison cell. It was my intention to join you in person today at this exceptional forum and I was looking forward to meeting you human rights advocates and defenders of free expression, thought, and belief. However, I am now behind bars once again…
More from ADHRB
NGOs & Individuals Call for Protection of Religious Freedom for Bahrain 13
Click here to jump to news on Saudi Arabia
Updates from the Ground in Bahrain
- 19 people arrested, including 5 children
- 90 trials postponed
- 17 individuals sentenced to a total of 145 years in prison
- 2 death sentences upheld
- Security forces continue to use excessive force including tear gas and shotgun pellets against protesters
Click here for the full report.
Bahrain News and Opinion
Bahrain Court Jails Six Police for Torture
Sentences range from one to five years in prison for torturing inmates, including one who died in custody.
Bahrain Court Upholds Death Sentences
Death sentences upheld for Mohamed Ramadhan ‘Issa ‘Ali Hussain & Hussain ‘Ali Moosa Hussain Mohamed.
Uprising Strong, Economy Dire in Bahrain
Commentary from Rori Donaghy of Middle East Eye.
Arabic Sources
Family of Jau Detainee Denied Visitation
Please click here for a PDF of this article in English
Saudi Arabia
NGOs Urge EU to Call for Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr’s Release
29 May 2015 – Washington, D.C. – 11 human rights and multi-faith organizations sent a letter to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, urging the European Union (EU) and the European External Action Service (EEAS) to call on the government of Saudi Arabia to cancel the death sentence of Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr and release him immediately.
Read more here.
News from Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia Suicide Bomb Attack Kills Four in Dammam
Mystery Behind a Dramatic Rise in Executions in Saudi Arabia
Amnesty Wants Ottawa to Reveal Details of $15bn Saudi Arms Deal