UAE to hold new hearing for academic Dr. Nasser bin Ghaith

17 January 2017 – Tomorrow, 18 January 2017, prominent Emirati economist and academic Dr. Nasser bin Ghaith is scheduled for a new hearing before the Abu Dhabi Federal Appeal Court. UAE authorities have subjected Dr. bin Ghaith to a lengthy trial over charges that violate his right to free expression and association. Americans for Democracy[…]

Bahraini Authorities refer Nabeel Rajab to Prosecution for Letter Published in Le Monde

21 December 2016 – Bahraini authorities have today interrogated imprisoned human rights defender Nabeel Rajab on allegations stemming from a letter he recently published in the French newspaper Le Monde. The undersigned NGOs condemn in the strongest possible terms any further legal action against Rajab for exercising his fundamental right to free expression and call[…]

After one month, Bahraini man remains disappeared

UPDATE: On the evening of 27 November 2016, the family informed that Sayed Alawi Husain Alawi Husain called his mother and his wife. Sayed Alawi reported the he was being held in detention at the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID). It is unclear at this time why CID authorities did not inform Sayed Alawi’s family of[…]

Bahraini Authorities Continue Crackdown on Activists: More Human Rights Defenders and BCHR Members Face Reprisals

16 November 2016 – In the past few days, the Bahraini authorities have summoned at least 26 activists and human rights defenders for interrogations over charges of illegal gathering, including members of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR). The undersigned NGOs are deeply concerned about this sudden wave of reprisals against opposition voices and[…]

Rights groups urge 50 states: ‘Call for Nabeel Rajab’s release’

15 September 2016 – Rights groups yesterday wrote to the governments of 50 states urging them to publicly call for the release of Bahraini human rights defender Nabeel Rajab, who faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment for comments he made on Twitter. Last week, Bahrain brought the new charge of “defaming the state” against him,[…]