ADHRB, in conjunction with Freedom House, will hold a protest Wednesday, December 12 to highlight the deteriorating human rights situation in Bahrain. The protest will take place at 6pm at the Ritz-Carlton hotel, located at 1150 22nd Street NW in Washington, D.C.. The Ritz-Carlton has served as the site of the Government of Bahrain’s National Day celebration in D.C. since at least 2010, and will serve as the site of the government’s 2012 celebration as well.
In recent months, human rights defenders in Bahrain have come under renewed attack for free speech and expression; Bahrainis have been sentenced to prison for writing so-called “defamatory” Tweets about the king; 31 Bahraini citizens—including ADHRB’s Director, Husain Abdulla—have had their citizenship revoked; protests remain almost entirely banned; and only low-ranking officials have been held to account for torturing and abusing detainees after last year’s protest. These problems represent only a fraction of the many ongoing problems that continue to mar Bahrain’s human rights record.
Those interested in participating in the protest are invited to arrive at the Ritz-Carlton at 6pm. No civil disobedience is planned for this event. Questions may be directed to info [at] adhrb.org.
