Lighting a Candle for Waleed Abu al-Khair

On 6 July 2014, the Saudi Specialized Criminal Court sentenced Waleed Abu al-Khair to 15 years in prison, a 15-year travel ban, and a fine of 200,000 Saudi riyals. To mark the passing of one year since his unjust sentencing, the international human rights community has put forward a series of testimonials that highlight Waleed’s[…]

Michael Payne Delivers Oral Intervention on Cooperation between Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and OHCHR at HRC29

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tWt6_CGmWA&feature=youtu.be On July 1 2015, ADHRB International Advocacy Officer Michael Payne participated in an Item 10 General Debate on the cooperation between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) at the 29th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. Please continue reading for full remarks[…]

Mapping the Saudi State Chapter 4: Media Censorship

*Best viewed in full-screen mode. In Mapping the Saudi State, Chapter 4: Media Censorship, ADHRB studies the complex and mutually-supportive system of government agencies and legal codes that control publicly-circulated content within the kingdom and prevent the development of an independent press. Through an interactive presentation and a comprehensive written report, ADHRB focuses on how[…]

Human Rights Prize Awarded to Waleed Abu al-Khair

29 June 2015 — Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) strongly supports the awarding of the Ludovic-Trarieux Human Rights International Prize to Saudi human rights defender Waleed Abu al-Khair.  Mr. Abu al-Khair is the 20th person ever to receive the prestigious award, joining a tradition that includes Nelson Mandela.  Currently imprisoned in[…]

Saudi Arabia Interrupts ADHRB Intervention at HRC29 on Destruction of Religious Sites

  On 30 June 2015, ADHRB’s International Advocacy Officer Michael Payne delivered an oral intervention under Item 9 at the 29th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. The intervention addresses the Saudi government’s destruction of sacred religious and cultural sites in Saudi Arabia.  As captured in the video above, the Saudi representative to[…]