Political Society Law Amendment Silences Religious Opposition

Since 2011, Bahraini officials have violently repressed activists and opposition political societies. Police used excessive force to disperse peaceful protesters demanding political reform in the Manama Pearl Roundabout. To further immobilize pro-democracy initiatives, Bahraini forces have arrested human rights defenders and amended laws to criminalize civil society and silence dissenting voices. Most recently, the government[…]

Eminent Shia Cleric Stripped of Citizenship, Faces Deportation

20 June 2016 – Washington, DC – In its latest attempt to stifle free speech and expression, the Government of Bahrain has revoked the citizenship of Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim. Sheikh Isa is highly regarded as the spiritual leader of Bahrain’s Shia population, who make up the majority of the country. A Bahrain Ministry of[…]

An Overview of ADHRB Engagement at the 31st Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council

From 29 February to 24 March, Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) took part in the 31st Session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva to raise awareness of human rights violations in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. During the Session, ADHRB met[…]

ADHRB at HRC: Discrimination Against Shia in Saudi Arabia

On March 21, 2016, at the 31st session of the Human Rights Council, Amanda Milani delivered an oral intervention on behalf of Alsalam Foundation and Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain during the Item 9 General Debate in which she addressed the Durban Declaration and called the Council’s attention to Saudi Arabia’s discriminatory[…]

Shia clerics reject sectarianism and call for equality

In response to the 2011 pro-democracy movement, Bahrain, with the help of Saudi Arabia, suppressed the protests and accused Shia Iran of meddling in Bahraini affairs, giving the protests a decidedly sectarian cast. On March 8, 2016, however, a group of 39 Bahraini Shia clerics insisted that there had never been a call for sectarianism[…]