An overview of ADHRB’s participation in the activities of the 55th session of the Human Rights Council
Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) participated in the 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, held from 26 February and 5 April 2024.
During these sessions, the organization delivered seven oral interventions under five items, shedding light on various human rights violations in Bahrain, Kuwait, and occupied Palestinian territories.
ADHRB at HRC55: The Required Action is to Empty Prisons of Prisoners of Conscience and Allow the Exercise of the Right to Protest
At the UN
ADHRB at HRC55: We urge the council to pressure Bahrain for the immediate release of human rights defenders before it is too late
At the UN
ADHRB at HRC55 : We Ask For Accountability For Violations Instead of Promoting Impunity for Political Reasons
At the UN
ADHRB at HRC55 raised concerns about Bahrain’s failure in adhering to the recommendations of the UPR
At the UN
ADHRB at HRC55: We call on Bahrain to end sectarian discrimination and protect religious freedoms
At the UN
ADHRB in HRC55: We Call for Pressure on Kuwait to End Racial Discrimination Against the Bidoon Community
Profile in Persecution
Ayoob Adel Ahmed
Ayoob Adel Ahmed was a 23-year-old Bahraini citizen when Bahraini authorities arbitrarily arrested him for the final time on 14 May 2015. During his detention, he endured numerous violations, including brutal torture, enforced disappearance, sexual harassment, and other abuses. The most severe violations and burdens, however, stem from medical neglect, which has transformed him from a healthy young man into a prisoner suffering from a permanent disability. He is currently serving two life sentences, along with a total of 98 years imprisonment sentence in Jau Prison on politically motivated charges.
Salman Maki Ali was a 15-year-old Bahraini student and minor when Bahraini authorities arbitrarily arrested him on 21 October 2014 from the street without presenting an arrest warrant. During detention, he endured torture, enforced disappearance, solitary confinement, denial of access to legal counsel, unfair trials based on confessions extracted under torture, sectarian-based insults, and medical neglect. He is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence in Jau Prison on politically motivated charges.
A joint Letter Demanding The Release Of Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace After a Thousand Days of His Hunger Strike
After a thousand days of his hunger strike, Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain, along with 27 other human rights organizations, joined their voices in calling for the immediate and unconditional release of prominent human rights defender Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace.
Husain Mohamed Falah was a 17-year-old Bahraini minor and high school student when Bahraini authorities arrested him from his home on 15 December 2014 without presenting any arrest warrant. During his detention, he endured torture, sexual harassment, denial of attorney access during interrogation and trial, and an unfair trial. He is currently serving a life sentence in Jau Prison, facing religious discrimination, medical neglect, and being denied his rights to education and communication with his family.
Urgent Appeal: Bulgaria Must Halt Deportation of Saudi Human Rights Activist
The story of Abdulrahman al-Khalidi has recently caught the media’s attention, along with campaigns requesting his release. Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Article 19 promptly warned Bulgarian authorities of the risk the activist would face if deported to Saudi Arabia. This case has already highlighted negligence by Sofia authorities, violating the human rights of the Saudi citizen by putting him under administrative detention. Taking into account this violation, there exists a significant risk that Bulgaria would accept to deport him to Saudi Arabia, likely resulting in more violations, including unfair trials and torture.
Analyzing the Leaked Penal Code of Saudi Arabia: Persistent Failure to Commit to Human Rights Standards
The draft of Saudi Arabia’s first penal code was leaked in July 2022. The text has been the subject of various allegations, which Saudi Arabia promptly denied. However, Amnesty International, which first denounced the code’s flaws, ensures that several Saudi legal experts have confirmed its authenticity. More recently, Amnesty International shared its analysis of the draft code with Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers and the Saudi Arabian Human Rights Commission, who stated that the text is still under legislative review. Nonetheless, the draft leak poses serious concerns over the premises of the Crown Prince to improve human rights standards. In particular, some provisions allow for measures criminalizing defamation; it provides for the death penalty for minors and gives too broad power to judges to interpret Sharia law.
