Launch of Multilingual Website on Bahraini Prisoners of Conscience

The European Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (ECDHR), along with Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) and Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD), launches a new and innovative website: The Cost of Freedom in Bahrain. The website, which highlights the cases of Bahraini prisoners of conscience, is the first of[…]

Profiles in Persecution: Abdulla Jaafar Yusuf

Abdulla Jaafar Yusuf is a 14-year-old Bahraini citizen. Bahraini authorities arrested him in 2018 without a warrant at a religious assembly, interrogated him without a lawyer present, and subjected him to an unfair trial. He is currently imprisoned in the Juvenile Care Center. On 22 September 2018, Abdulla attended a procession in Diah to commemorate[…]

Bahrain Releases Three Prominent Female Political Prisoners, Thousands Remain in Detention

On 8 August 2019, the Bahraini government released two prominent female political prisoners, Ameera AlQashami and Faten Naser. Two days later, the government released a third prominent political prisoner, Najah Yusuf. Najah, who was serving a three-year prison sentence, was pardoned and released along with 104 other individuals on the occasion of Eid Al Adha.[…]

UN Special Procedures Publishes Urgent Appeal to Saudi Arabia on the Risk of Execution of Dr. Abbas Alabbad

On 27 May 2019, the United Nation (UN) Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief; and Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, published an Urgent Appeal addressed to Saudi Arabia concerning the risk of[…]

Appointment of First Saudi Female Ambassador to the US is a Further Attempt to Distract from Rights Abuses

On 23 February 2019, Saudi Arabia appointed its first ever female ambassador, Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud. She will serve as the ambassador to the United States (US). She is a member of the royal family, and has been widely known for her advocacy work around women’s rights in the kingdom. She succeeds Prince[…]