On March 20, 2025, Americans for Democracy and human rights in Bahrain delivered an intervention during the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council. In its intervention under Item 4, ADHRB highlighted Bahrain’s continued reprisals against human rights defenders, citing the examples of released human rights defender Naji Fateel and re-arrested human rights defender Ali AlHajee.
We express deep concerns about Bahrain’s continued reprisals against human rights defenders, as seen in the cases of released defenders like Naji Fateel and Ali AlHajee.
Although released under royal pardon in April 2024, human rights defender Naji Fateel faces severe restrictions. After 11 years of arbitrary detention, he has received no compensation. Bahrain has effectively barred him from employment by denying him the certificate needed for most jobs. He is also denied housing assistance, remains under surveillance, and is prohibited from entering certain GCC countries.
Human rights defender Ali AlHajee, released in June 2023 after 10 years of arbitrary detention, remains a target of repression. Following his release, he was placed under a travel ban. On 28 February 2025, authorities re-arrested him after a summons over his social media posts exposing abuses in Bahraini prisons and advocating for prisoners’ rights.
We urge the council to pressure Bahrain to end its persecution of human rights defenders and activists.
