Bahraini courts postpone the trial of Sheikh Isa Qassim

The Government of Bahrain on Monday, 27 February, postponed the trial of Sheikh Isa Qassim. The courts set the next court date for Sheikh Isa on 14 March 2017. Sheikh Isa Qassim is the spiritual leader of Bahrain’s Shia population. On 20 June 2016, the Government of Bahrain announced the citizenship revocation of Sheikh Isa[…]

Al-Arab TV closes in Qatar following censorship in Bahrain

The Al-Arab News Channel, owned by Saudi prince and philanthropist Al Waleed bin Talal Abudaliziz al Saud, has been permanently shut down before its first broadcast in Doha, a Saudi news site reported. The television channel had previously premiered in Manama, Bahrain in 2015. However, Bahraini authorities forced it to close after its first airing,[…]

Prisoner Profile: Naji Fateel

Naji Fateel is a human rights defender on the Board of Directors of the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights. For ten years, Bahraini authorities have detained, harassed, forcibly disappeared, and tortured him repeatedly for his peaceful and lawful human rights activism. In 2007, Bahraini authorities arrested Fateel for participating in a “violent gathering.” They[…]

U.S. should maintain human rights provisions in the sale of fighter jets to Bahrain

On 30 January 2017, Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that he expects President Trump’s administration to approve the stalled sale of F-16 fighter jets to the Government of Bahrain. This sale was blocked by the Obama administration due to concerns over Bahrain’s record on human rights. The sale[…]

UAE detains prominent political scientist Dr. Abdulkhaleq Abdulla

On Monday, 16 January 2017, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) State Security Apparatus arrested prominent political science professor Dr. Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, detaining him for ten days before his release on Thursday, 26 January 2017. It is suspected that UAE authorities arrested him over tweets he made about free expression in the UAE. At the time[…]