Young convicts in the Dry Dock: ongoing violations and delayed justice

On 17 September 2023, approximately 28 young Bahraini detainees in the Dry Dock Detention Center began a new hunger strike in protest against the continued violations committed against them by the prison administration, and the neglect of the relevant state institutions to carry out their duties, notably the National Institution for Human Rights, and the[…]

Profile in Persecution: Ali Isa Abdulla Yusuf Jasim

Updated: Ali Isa Jasim was a 15-year-old high school student when he was arrested without a warrant along with other young boys by officers in civilian clothing. He was subjected to enforced disappearance for a week and denied contact with his family. At only 15 years of age, he was one of 51 individuals subjected[…]

UAE Fails to Protect Child Sex Trafficking Victims

Late last month, the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) acquitted, along with four others, a mother whose daughters accused her of selling them into prostitution in Dubai. The mother, along with her accomplices, lured the girls to the UAE from Pakistan and forced them to work in a massage parlor. The authorities only[…]

State media whitewashes Bahrain’s human rights violations against children

On 30 July 2016, the Bahrain News Agency (BNA), the state news agency of Bahrain, released a statement on behalf of The Labour and Social Development Ministry regarding the activities of its National Child Committee. BNA noted that the Ministry and the Committee will convene to submit a 2017 report to the United Nations Committee[…]

US-Saudi relationship status: “It’s complicated”

“It’s complicated” responded President Obama after being pressed about the status of his friendship with Saudi Arabia, the repressive monarchy doing more harm than good in the Middle East. Today, Obama is set to meet with his counterpart in this complicated relationship at the GCC summit where Saudi leaders and other GCC heads of state[…]