US State Department’s 2017 Religious Freedom Report Highlights Systematic Discrimination in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain

31 May 2018 – Two days ago, the United States (US) Department of State (DoS) published its annual International Religious Freedom Report. In it, the State Department highlights systematic, government-sanctioned religious discrimination in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, including specific targeting of the countries’ Shia Muslim communities. Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB)[…]

Profiles in Persecution: Mohamed Ebrahim Hasan

Mohamed Ebrahim Hasan is a 26-year-old Bahraini citizen currently being detained in Jau Prison on charges of joining a terrorist cell and forging government papers. On 13 February 2014, officers in plain clothing arrested Mohamed at the Bahrain International Airport and transferred him to the Ministry of Interior’s Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID). Upon his arrival,[…]

UAE Human Rights Defender Ahmed Mansoor Sentenced to Ten Years for Tweets

31 May 2018 – On 30 May 2018, Ahmed Mansoor, a prominent United Arab Emirates (UAE) human rights defender, was sentenced to ten years in prison and received a fine of Dh1 million ($272,000 USD) on charges of insulting the “status and prestige of the UAE and its symbols,” and using his social media account[…]

Bahrain Moves to Ban Opposition Ahead of 2018 Elections

** Update 11 June 2018: Today, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain confirmed the amendment to Law No. 14 relating to political exclusion. The amendment will soon be published in the Official Gazette.  30 May 2018 – The National Assembly, Bahrain’s parliament, has advanced new legislation that will virtually ban members of the political[…]

Saudi Arabia arrests 10 for their work promoting women’s rights

Update: Saudi officials released Aisha al-Mana and Dr. Hessa al-Sheikh on 23 May and 24 May respectively. The rest of the activists remain in detention. Many of them have reportedly been able to contact their families, although officials have not allowed Loujain al-Hathloul to contact either her family or her lawyer. 24 May 2018 –[…]