Oman Arresting Journalists in Affront to Free Press

In an attempt to stifle freedom of speech, Omani authorities have recently arrested three journalists from Azamn daily newspaper in connection to an article that was published on 26 July 2016. Officials believe the article criticized the country’s judiciary, and used this as the basis for the journalists’ arrests. On 9 August 2016, Oman’s Ministry[…]

UN Experts Grill Kuwait on Torture, Trafficking, Violence against Women

On 25 and 26 July 2016, Kuwait undertook its periodic review under the Convention against Torture, wherein the Committee in charge of implementing the Convention quizzed Kuwait on the implementation of its international obligations. Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) assesses that the Committee accurately understood the situation of torture as being[…]

Recent Mall Fire in Qatar Highlights Human Trafficking Abuses

On 20 July 2016, a fire broke out at the construction site of Tawar Mall near Al Duhail, Qatar. Hundreds of construction workers, most of them migrant workers, evacuated the site. While the Qatari Ministry of Interior reported no casualties, it remains unclear whether the thick, black smoke that billowed from the scene affected any[…]

UN HRC Releases Remarks Regarding Kuwait’s ICCPR Review

On 15 July 2016, the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee (HRC) published the findings of its review of Kuwait’s adherence to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The Government of Kuwait acceded to the ICCPR on 21 May 1996. It is one of only two members of the Gulf Cooperation Council[…]

Dispatch: Germany Must Not Enable the Human Rights Violations of its Gulf Allies

Bahrain and Germany’s bilateral relations, which date back to 17 May 1972, have helped enable the Bahraini government to usher in an era of unprecedented repression and human rights violations. Over the past 44 years, Germany has engaged in substantial military and security cooperation with Bahrain and the other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states despite[…]