Closure of Ulama Signifies Continuation of Systematic Religious Freedom Violations in Bahrain

In the most recent blow to religious freedom in Bahrain, a court today ordered the closure of the Ulama Islamic Council and the liquidation of all its assets following a lawsuit submitted by the Justice Ministry in September 2013. The lawsuit accused the organization of political involvement and illegal operations. The apolitical Ulama Council and[…]

Bahrain Must Ratify the Convention on Migrant Workers

International attention has intensified on the plight of foreign workers building stadiums ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and rightly so.  The workers are forced to live and work in horrendous conditions, with many believed to be in this position as a result of forced trafficking.  The Fédération Internationale de Football Association’s (FIFA)[…]

ADHRB Applauds TLHRC Defending Freedoms Hearing

WASHINGTON, DC – January 16, 2014 – Today, the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (TLHRC) held a Defending Freedoms Hearing: Highlighting the Plight of Prisoners of Conscience around the World, which aimed to address the plight of human rights defenders who find themselves victims of their oppressive government. The hearing featured testimony from six witnesses,[…]

Ten-Year Old Speech Offenders: Bahrain’s New Violations of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

In early December, the Government of Bahrain arrested two children, Jehad Nabeel al-Samee, age 10, and Abdullah Yousif al-Bahraini, age 13, on charges of attacking police officers with stones and illegal gathering and rioting. On 6 January 2014, the government ordered the renewal of their detention, citing the children’s social worker’s failure to provide a[…]

ADHRB Praises Decision by South Korean Government to Suspend all Tear Gas Exports to Bahrain

WASHINGTON, DC – January 7, 2014 – On Tuesday, January 7, the Government of South Korea announced that it is indefinitely suspending all exports of tear gas to the Kingdom of Bahrain in response to repeated calls from advocacy and human rights groups.  Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) joined with other[…]