Earlier this month, Kuwait’s parliament passed two new laws increasing the government’s power to censor online media and restrict free expression. On 11 January 2016, lawmakers prescribed a jail term of up to ten years for any online “criticism of the government, religious figureheads or foreign leaders.” The next day, the parliament passed an additional law regulating[…]
25
Jan
Jan
On Sunday, Bahraini authorities questioned Sheikh Ali Salman over “violations” posted on his Twitter account, despite the fact that he remains imprisoned and unable to tweet. Sheikh Salman, the secretary-general of Bahraini opposition bloc al-Wefaq, is already serving a four-year prison term for inciting hatred, disturbing public peace, and inciting civil disobedience. Following the interrogation, Bahrain’s prosecutor stated he[…]
22
Jan
Jan
On Thursday, 21 January 2016, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the priorities of the European Union (EU) at the 2016 United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Sessions. The EU resolution strongly condemned the continued harassment and detention of human rights defenders and opposition figures by government forces. 2015 experienced pervasive human rights violations[…]
21
Jan
Jan
21 January 2016 – Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain joined a group of 27 NGOs to call upon Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to lift the travel ban that his government imposed upon human rights defender Nabeel Rajab. Find the text of the letter below. His Majesty Sheikh Hamad bin Isa[…]
20
Jan
Jan
On Monday, 18 January 2016, after almost a year and a half of detention, an Emirati court has formally charged Salim al-Aradi with two counts of “providing financial support for, and cooperating with, terrorist groups.” When police first arrested al-Aradi, a dual Canadian-Libyan citizen, they did not provide any reason for his arrest. Al-Aradi claims[…]
