31 May 2017 – On 26 May 2017, Bahraini security forces subjected human rights defender Ebtisam al-Saegh to seven hours of torture and interrogation over her activism, including her engagement with United Nations (UN) human rights mechanisms. The Bahraini government’s actions in this regard represent the latest in a series of acts of harassment and[…]
31
May
May
31 May 2017 – Between 24 and 25 May, Qatari authorities forcibly deported Saudi human rights defender Mohammed Abdullah al-Otaibi to Saudi Arabia, where he faces an unfair trial and possible ill-treatment due to his peaceful activism. Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) strongly condemns the Qatari government’s actions and calls on[…]
25
May
May
On 10 May 2017, Bahrain’s High Appeals court upheld the death sentence of Maher Abbas al-Khabbaz on charges related to his alleged role in the murder of a police officer in February 2013. The trial of al-Khabbaz failed to meet international standards of due process. Bahraini authorities reportedly subjected al-Khabbaz to torture and other forms[…]
11
May
May
On 12 April 2017, the Saudi Arabian government released human rights defender Khaled Al-Omair from prison, more than six months after the completion of his eight-year sentence. He had been imprisoned on charges including “breaking obedience with the ruler” and “embarking on a protest.” These charges related to his attempts to hold demonstrations protesting Israeli[…]
08
May
May
On 4 May 2017, Ben Emmerson, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism, returned from a five-day visit of Saudi Arabia. Upon the conclusion of his trip, he released his preliminary observations. While he noted that the Saudi government was engaging in some positive steps to[…]
