NGO Letter of Appeal: Human rights defender Ghada Jamsheer remains in jail despite poor health

Women’s rights defender, writer and blogger Ghada Jamsheer remains in jail in Bahrain serving a combined ten-month sentence for exercising her right to free expression on Twitter. On 7 November 2016, Jamsheer appeared before Judge Mohamed Al-Khalifa of the High Criminal Court of Appeal to request that she be freed to serve out the remainder[…]

Saudi government to execute protester with disabilities

On 4 November 2016, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia sentenced Munir al-Adam, 23 years old, to death. Security forces arrested him in 2012 for his involvement in the 2011 protests, when he was 18 years old. During his trial, authorities did not allow him access to a lawyer. Al-Adam is partially blind and partially deaf.[…]

#TriedForTweets: @angryarabiya – Zainab al-Khawaja

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[…]

Bahrain Charges Ebrahim Sharif for AP Interview After Prince Charles Visit

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[…]

The Saudi Association for Civil and Political Rights’ Suliman al-Rashudi

The Saudi Association for Civil and Political Rights (ACPRA) was formed seven years ago this month by a diverse group of activists united in the goal of spreading human rights awareness and advocating for constitutional reform. Its eldest member, Suliman al-Rashudi brought decades of experience in Islamic law and human rights to organization, strengthening the[…]