At Least 16 More Arrests in Saudi Arabia Amid Succession and Qatar Crisis

Over the past several weeks – since early September – Saudi security forces have arrested at least 16 people perceived to be critical of Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince, and of the government’s policies towards Qatar. The detained individuals include prominent religious figures, writers, journalists, academics, and activists like Abdulaziz al-Shubaily and Issa al-Hamid,[…]

BICI Chairman Mahmoud Cherif Bassiouni passes away at 79

Mahmoud Cherif Bassiouni, the Chairman of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), passed away on 25 September 2017 at the age of 79. Bassiouni was a former Distinguished Research Professor at DePaul University College of Law, and he received an LLB from the University of Cairo, a JD from Indiana University, an LLM from[…]

Saudi Arabia: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back for Online Free Expression

On Monday, 18 September 2017, Snapchat reportedly restricted content from the Qatari media outlet Al Jazeera for its users in Saudi Arabia. According to Snapchat, the move was made to comply with local laws – something the company tries to do in all countries that it operates within. However, Al Jazeera says this is an[…]

UK continues to sell arms to Saudi Arabia despite allegations of war crimes in Yemen

Since Saudi Arabia entered the conflict in Yemen in March 2015 and began to conduct airstrikes, the British government has sold the kingdom more than £3.6 billion worth of arms. Throughout the duration of its involvement in the conflict, the Saudi-led Coalition in Yemen (formed by Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, such as Kuwait,[…]

Appeal Hearing Postponed for Bahraini Prisoner of Conscience Khalil al-Halwachi

On 18 September 2017, a Bahraini court postponed yet another hearing for professor and engineer Khalil al-Halwachi. Al-Halwachi, a former opposition activist, is currently appealing a ten-year sentence for allegedly possessing a weapon, which he maintains was falsely planted by security forces. According to Fatima al-Halwachi, Khalil’s daughter and the Deputy Chairman of the European-Bahraini[…]