UAE Sentences Dr. Nasser bin Ghaith to 10 Years in Prison

29 March 2017—Today the Abu Dhabi Court of Appeals issued its final verdict against prominent Emirati academic and economist Dr. Nasser bin Ghaith, sentencing him to ten years in prison. Dr. bin Ghaith faced several charges related to exercising his rights to free expression and association. His sentencing comes nine days after Emirati authorities arrested and[…]

Bahrain Imposes New Restriction and Denies Medical Care at Jau Prison

29 March 2017 – Over the last three months, the Government of Bahrain has intensified restrictions on inmates at Jau Prison, the country’s largest long-term male detention facility. Authorities have particularly targeted political prisoners and prisoners of conscience for increased abuse, subjecting the remaining eleven members of the “Bahrain 13” to severe deprivation of medical[…]

Bahrain security forces employ excessive use of force against funeral mourners

27 March 2017 – Bahraini security forces attacked the funeral procession of Mustafa Hamdan with tear gas and shotgun bullets, injuring those gathered. We, the undersigned organizations, condemn this excessive use of force employed by security forces over the weekend during the procession. We call on the security forces to halt their excessive use of[…]

18-year-old Mustafa Hamdan dies after security forces shooting

24 March 2017 – Mustafa Hamdan, 18, died this morning at the Salmaniya Medical Complex, two months after security forces shot him in head and rendered him comatose. We, the undersigned, consider Hamdan’s death an extrajudicial killing by the Bahraini Government. We condemn state violence employed against peaceful protesters, the denial of medical care, and[…]

Bahraini authorities sentence scholar and activist Khalil al-Halwachi to 10 years in prison

23 March 2017 – The Fifth High Criminal Court in Bahrain today sentenced scholar and activist Khalil al-Halwachi to 10 years in prison. The government arrested and charged al-Halwachi with possessing weapons in 2014; he has been in pre-trial detention since that time. In addition to weapons possession, the prosecution further charged al-Halwachi with “insulting[…]