ADHRB Welcomes Appointment of UN Assistant Secretary General for the Combat of Reprisals on Human Rights Defenders

6 October 2016 – Earlier this week, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon appointed an Assistant Secretary General whose special mandate involves considering and responding to reprisals against Human Rights Defenders and civil society actors who engage with the United Nations. The first expert appointed to this mandate will be Mr. Andrew Gilmore, who previously served[…]

Journalist and Social Media Activist Arrested after Writing Critical Letter to Minister of Interior about Torture Suffered in 2011

10 October 2016 – Bahraini authorities arrested journalist and social media activist Faisal Hayyat yesterday after he was summoned over a tweet. The Public Prosecution today remanded Hayyat in custody for one week on charges of insulting a sect and a religious figure. The undersigned NGOs condemn Bahrain’s ongoing criminalization of freedom of expression and targeting[…]

Ghada Jamsheer arrest calls attention to Bahrain’s targeting of women

Bahraini human rights defender Ghada Jamsheer was arrested on 15 August 2016, one month ago. She had just returned to her home country of Bahrain after spending several months in London for medical treatment. As soon as she arrived at the airport in Manama, police arrested her on charges related to her criticism of Bahraini[…]

White House places restrictions on arms sales to Bahrain

Three arms deals to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are currently making their way through Congress. If approved, the deals would supply Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait with 123 new F-15 and F-16 fighter jets and extensive upgrades to existing jets. The arms deal with Bahrain in particular would supply the country with 19 F-16s and[…]

An Overview of ADHRB Engagement at the 33rd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council

Geneva, Switzerland – From 13 September to 30 September 2016, Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) participated in the 33rd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) to highlight human rights abuses in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the rest of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). ADHRB delivered 20 oral interventions[…]