UN WGAD warns that Systemic Deprivation of Liberty in Bahrain may constitute Crimes against Humanity

The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) published on its website their Opinion from 20 July 2022 concerning five young Bahraini citizens sentenced in an unfair mass trial known as the Soleimani Cell Case. The Working Group found that the individuals were arbitrarily arrested in violation of international human rights law. These five[…]

Joint Statement: President Biden’s visit has a negative impact on human rights movement in the MENA region

1 September 2022- The human rights movement in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has paid a heavy price for the unlimited and unconditional support provided by the United Kingdom and United States to repressive governments across the region. The recent visit of US President Joe Biden has reinforced the practice of international relations[…]

United Nations Human Rights Committee Conducts Follow-up Review Of Human Rights Situation in Bahrain, Addresses Escalation of Repression

  On 19 July 2022, the United Nation’s (UN) held the 135th Session of the Human Rights Committee (CCPR). During this session the Special Rapporteur on Follow-up to Concluding Observations, Vasilka Sancin, offered a progress report on Bahrain’s efforts to address those concerns and recommendations raised by the HRC as part of its 3516th meeting[…]

House Raises Concern over Bahrain Government’s Human Rights Abuses, Calls for State Department Report on Upcoming Bahrain Election

The House Appropriations Committee expressed deep concerns over ongoing human rights violations in Bahrain and required the US State Department to prepare a report detailing its actions to ensure free and fair parliamentary elections in Bahrain in November 2022.  The Committee’s actions were included in the Report to accompany the Fiscal Year 2023 State, Foreign[…]

Joint Letter: Make any meeting with King Hamad contingent on tangible human rights reforms

14 July 2022 Dear Mr. President, We are writing to raise serious concerns about your confirmed participation in the upcoming Jeddah Summit on 15 and 16 July given that the leaders attending this summit are some of the most brutal authoritarian rulers today. We understand that one-on-one bilateral meetings between heads of state often accompany[…]