Al-Arab TV closes in Qatar following censorship in Bahrain

The Al-Arab News Channel, owned by Saudi prince and philanthropist Al Waleed bin Talal Abudaliziz al Saud, has been permanently shut down before its first broadcast in Doha, a Saudi news site reported. The television channel had previously premiered in Manama, Bahrain in 2015. However, Bahraini authorities forced it to close after its first airing,[…]

Bahrain’s prosecution orders further pretrial detention of Nabeel Rajab over politically-motivated charges

UPDATE: 5 January 2017 – Bahrain’s Public Prosecution Office (PPO) has extended Nabeel Rajab’s pretrial detention period by 15 days on allegations of “spreading rumours and false information,” according to the human rights defender’s lawyer. These charges stem from television interviews Rajab gave in 2014 and 2015. 29 December 2016 – The public prosecution in Bahrain today[…]

ADHRB welcomes release of Ghada Jamsheer but calls for remaining sentence to be commuted

On 12 December 2016, Bahraini human rights defender Ghada Jamsheer was released from prison following four months in detention. Bahraini officials arrested Jamsheer and imprisoned her for charges related to tweets she made highlighting corruption in a Bahraini-run government hospital. Americans for Democracy & Human Rights (ADHRB) welcomes the release of Ghada Jamsheer but notes[…]

Case Update: Faisal Hayyat sentenced to three months in prison

Last week, Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) and 45 other NGOs submitted a letter to the Bahraini government calling for the immediate release of Faisal Hayyat. Hayyat is a renowned sports journalist who was detained and tortured by the government during the unrest of 2011. The Bahraini government rearrested him in[…]

Bahrain government must cease judicial harassment of Faisal Hayyat and other Bahraini journalists

46 human rights organizations have signed a letter asking King Hamad to immediately and unconditionally release imprisoned journalist Faisal Hayyat, and to cease the judicial harassment of all journalists in Bahrain. ________________________ To: Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa King of Bahrain CC : Hon. Zeid Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein High Commissioner for Human Rights Mr.[…]