Using her Twitter handle, @angryarabiya, Zainab al-Khawaja amassed nearly 50,000 followers and became a prominent voice of the 2011 pro-democracy movement in Bahrain. She, along with fellow human rights defenders, provided on-the-ground updates on protests and demonstrations via her Twitter page. Her cyberactivism helped bring greater international attention to the human rights abuses committed by the Government[…]
14
Nov
Nov
UPDATE: 14 November 2016, 2:00pm EST – The United States Department of State has called for the Government of Bahrain to drop all charges against Ebrahim Sharif, noting that that the Department has raised the case directly with Bahraini authorities. Director of Press Relations Elizabeth Trudeau stated that “no one anywhere should be prosecuted or[…]
28
Oct
Oct
On 26 June 2016, Bahraini security forces stormed Taiba Ismail’s house and arrested her. The Government of Bahrain has since charged Ismail for tweets she posted, saying that she “incited hatred against the government.” Ismail’s arrest came at the height of the government’s renewed campaign of judicial harassment against opposition leaders, political activists, and human[…]
26
Oct
Oct
Saudi Arabia ranks as among the least free countries in the world, with its political, religious, and social spheres characterized by strict state control. Amidst an oppressive public sphere, many activists have turned to online social media as a way to organize and express themselves. However, the government has moved to exert similar control over[…]
06
Oct
Oct
6 October 2016 – A Bahraini high criminal court today postponed the sentencing of Nabeel Rajab to 31 October 2016. No reason was provided for the postponement. The leading human rights defender faces up to 15 years in prison in a trial that has flagrantly disregarded his human rights. We, the undersigned, condemn the prosecution[…]
