Top US Senator Announces Suspension of GCC Arms Sales

29 June 2017 – On Monday 26 June, Chairman of the United States (US) Senate Foreign Relations Committee Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) sent a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson announcing he will provide no further clearances on arms sales to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states until the ongoing Qatar crisis is resolved.[…]

An Overview of ADHRB Engagement at the 35th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council

Geneva, Switzerland—From 6 to 23 June 2017, Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) participated in the 35th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC), highlighting concerns over a variety of human rights abuses being committed by the governments of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. ADHRB[…]

Blockade of Qatar Raises Risk of Serious Human Rights Violations

12 June 2017 – A week after a diplomatic row publicly erupted between Qatar and several of its key regional allies – including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Egypt – the small emirate remains under effective land, air, and sea blockade. Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) is[…]

HRC35 Item 3 Oral Intervention: Discrimination Against Women in the GCC

On 9 June 2017, Jawad Fairooz, Director of Salam for Democracy and Human Rights, delivered an oral intervention on behalf of ADHRB and BIRD during the 35th session of the Human Rights Council’s Item 3 addressing the Working Group on Discrimination Against Women’s visit to Kuwait and the issues facing women around the GCC. Please[…]

Kuwait’s Escalating Campaign against Its Expat Workers

In recent months, tensions in Kuwait surrounding the country’s demographic composition have been on the rise. Like all Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, a significant percentage of Kuwait’s population is comprised of foreign nationals who have traveled to the country for work opportunities. As Kuwait continues to grapple with economic changes stemming from a decline[…]