Saudi Human Rights Lawyer Waleed Abu al-Khair Sentenced to Fifteen Years

13 January 2014 – Today, the Specialized Criminal Court of Saudi Arabia ordered human rights lawyer Waleed Abu al-Khair to complete his fifteen year prison sentence without the possibility of parole after he refused to show remorse or recognize the legitimacy of the court. Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain and the Bahrain[…]

NGOs Call for Immediate Release of Saudi Human Rights Lawyer Waleed Abu al-Khair

08 January 2015 – On 12 January 2015, the public prosecutor of Saudi Arabia will again present his case against human rights defender Waleed Abu al-Khair in an appellate proceeding at the Saudi Specialized Criminal Court. The government seeks to obtain a harsher sentence on charges for which Abu al-Khair has already been convicted and[…]

Anti-terror Laws Threaten Human Rights Defenders in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia & UAE

On 14 November 2014, six leading human rights NGOs held a discussion in Washington, DC on human rights violations by Gulf countries that are partners of the United States in the fight against ISIS. “Criminalization of Dissent in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates” put the focus on countries which routinely jail those who advocate democratic reform and[…]

NGOs Urge Saudi King to Grant Clemency for Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr

27 October 2014 – Washington, D.C. – Today, 26 multi-faith organizations sent a letter to King Abdulla bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia urging him to pardon Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr. The renowned Shia cleric and human rights defender was sentenced to death, and possible crucifixion, on 15 October by the Saudi Specialized Criminal Court. He was found guilty of vague[…]

An Overview of ADHRB Engagement at the 27th Session of the UN Human Rights Council

In September 2014, Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) engaged the 27th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva, Switzerland to raise awareness of ongoing human rights abuses in Bahrain and neighboring Saudi Arabia. ADHRB met with dozens of Member States, the United Nations Office of the High[…]