On 12 April 2017, the Saudi Arabian government released human rights defender Khaled Al-Omair from prison, more than six months after the completion of his eight-year sentence. He had been imprisoned on charges including “breaking obedience with the ruler” and “embarking on a protest.” These charges related to his attempts to hold demonstrations protesting Israeli[…]
10
May
May
On 7 May, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Bahraini government’s Isa Cultural Center (ICC) regarding promotion of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Just two months earlier, at the 34th Session Human Rights Council (HRC), Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) had applauded the decision[…]
09
May
May
The US Congress recently reached on deal on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 appropriations act. Included is the Senate committee report (linked here), which mandates that the US Department of State will have to submit an updated assessment report on the Bahraini government’s implementation of the recommendations in the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI).[…]
04
May
May
On 30 April 2017, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism, Ben Emmerson, arrived in Saudi Arabia for a five-day visit—he left today, 4 May. During his visit, he sought “to provide assistance in the implementation of the country’s 2014 Penal Law for Terrorism and its[…]
03
May
May
On 1 May 2017, the United Nations Human Rights Council conducted Bahrain’s third-cycle Universal Periodic Review (UPR). In this most recent iteration of Bahrain’s review, dozens of states issued 217 recommendations to the Government of Bahrain, outlining numerous ways to improve the country’s human rights record. These recommendations covered a wide range of important thematic[…]
