Three-year prison terms for burning tires

Bahrain’s First High Criminal Court sentenced eight suspects to three years in prison over charges of starting a fire and holding an assembly in Salmabad. The Public Prosecution said the suspects started a fire for terrorist purposes on December 27, 2014, putting people’s lives and properties in danger. The prosecution also accused them of participating[…]

Arrests for Free Expression in the UAE and Oman

A UAE court has once again postponed the trial of Omani blogger Muawiya al-Rawahi on Sunday. A writer and human rights defender, al-Rawahi has been accused of insulting the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohamed bin Zayed. UAE authorities originally arrested al-Rawahi at the border with Oman almost a year ago, preventing him from returning[…]

European Parliament Resolution on Yemen Conflict

The European Parliament submitted a motion for a resolution concerning the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Yemen. In the resolution, the European Parliament cited areas which require immediate humanitarian assistance, urging all parties of the conflict to permit humanitarian relief workers unfettered access to the civilian population. Additionally, the European officials reiterated, “[the need] to ensure[…]

Bahrain says Human Rights Watch report is “inaccurate”

Bahrain criticized Human Rights Watch’s (HRW) annual report regarding the gulf kingdom. The 659-page document released by HRW in late January 2016 covers human rights in 90 countries. The report documented a number of human rights abuses in Bahrain, to which the Bahraini government responded, saying it “contains fundamental errors,” and “a number of claims[…]

Sri Lankan Workers Return Home after Abuse in GCC

With the assistance of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau, about 150 domestic workers have returned to Sri Lanka after suffering abuse in GCC countries, particularly Kuwait. Some sought refuge at the embassy in that country a few months ago. Many Sri Lankan women have journeyed to the Gulf as to work domestic help, which[…]