Prisoner Profile: Jaffer Demistani

**Update: On 16 May 2018, Jaffer Demistani was released from custody after the government reduced his seven-year sentence. On the night of 22 March 2014, an unmarked civilian pickup truck chased Jaffer Ebrahim Demistani. A group of officers from the Bahraini Ministry of Interior (MoI) stopped Jaffer and arrested him without presenting a warrant. The officers[…]

Bahrain’s “Butcher” of Human Rights Sits on Saudi Yemen Accountability Panel

Saudi Arabia has appointed Bahraini judge Mansour al-Mansour to advise the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen’s Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT). The JIAT is the coalition’s investigatory and accountability body tasked with reviewing alleged human rights abuses, including attacks on civilians. Mansour al-Mansour, now poised to issue verdicts on alleged human rights violations in Yemen, previously[…]

Al Wefaq Head Ali Salman’s Unfair 9-Year Sentence Upheld

12 December 2016 – An appeals court today upheld the arbitrary 9-year sentence against opposition leader Sheikh Ali Salman following an extended and flawed re-trial. The Bahraini government ordered a retrial of the leader of Al-Wefaq in October, but these free expression-related convictions upheld today reflect Bahrain’s continued failure to adhere to international standards of[…]

NGOs urge Obama Administration to address Human Rights at Manama Dialogue

8 December 2016 – NGOs sent a letter today to President Obama, calling on his administration to address human rights violations with Bahraini officials during the Manama Dialogue this weekend. Please see the text of the letter below. 8 December 2016 President Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear[…]

Canadian FM must call on Govt of Bahrain to release journalists and activists

The following letter was sent to the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Stephane Dion. We, the undersigned human rights organizations, are deeply concerned by the continued targeting of individuals, including journalists, for their free expression in the Kingdom of Bahrain. As the Manama Dialogue defense conference is set to take place from December 9th to 11th,[…]