Elevation of Mohammed bin Salman may not Affect State of Saudi Human Rights

With the elevation of 31-year-old Mohammed bin Salman to the position of Crown Prince – the youngest Crown Prince Saudi Arabia has ever had – there has come a sense of optimism about the future of the kingdom’s socio-economic state. There is hope among activists and the general public that younger leadership will bring about[…]

HRC35 Item 6 Oral Intervention: Bahrain’s Refusal to Implement UPR Recommendations

On 19 June 2017, ADHRB’s Advocacy Associate delivered an intervention on behalf of ADHRB during the Item 6 debate during the 35th session of the Human Rights Council. In his intervention, Pry raised concerns over Bahrain’s failure to implement its past UPR recommendations, including concerning freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and the death penalty.[…]

Bahraini Court Issues Two New Death Sentences Amid Torture Allegations

8 June 2016 – Bahraini courts sentenced two victims of torture to death on Tuesday amid serious concerns that the judiciary failed to uphold basic fair trial and due process guarantees, despite international outcry over recent executions carried out by the Kingdom. We, the undersigned, condemn the authorities’ use of torture and capital punishment and[…]

Bahraini Courts Continue to Confirm Death Sentences Despite Torture Claims

On 10 May 2017, Bahrain’s High Appeals court upheld the death sentence of Maher Abbas al-Khabbaz on charges related to his alleged role in the murder of a police officer in February 2013. The trial of al-Khabbaz failed to meet international standards of due process. Bahraini authorities reportedly subjected al-Khabbaz to torture and other forms[…]

ADHRB Welcomes Rapporteur on Terrorism’s Observations After Saudi Visit

On 4 May 2017, Ben Emmerson, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism, returned from a five-day visit of Saudi Arabia. Upon the conclusion of his trip, he released his preliminary observations. While he noted that the Saudi government was engaging in some positive steps to[…]