Harvest of the Profiles in Persecution: Systematic Human Rights Violations in Bahrain
Since the beginning of the popular movement demanding reform and democracy in Bahrain in 2011, the government has suppressed all forms of peaceful movements by all means and without any restraint. Repression has become a prevailing approach in the country, and prisons have been filled with prisoners of conscience, political prisoners, and human rights activists.
This release includes a comprehensive summary of ADHRB’s work in documenting the cases of prisoners of conscience in Bahrain within the “Profiles in Persecution” section. It includes information, statistics, and graphics based on comprehensive documentation and clear narratives in this weekly series over the years, which has reached 284 cases as of the publication date of this file.
ADHRB considers this decision a first step towards the demand for cleaning prisons but believes it will remain incomplete unless followed by additional steps to improve the human rights situation in the country. This includes stopping systematic violations affecting a large segment of Bahraini society exercising their right to freedom of expression and demanding democracy, as well as ending violations inside prisons and the prevalence of the culture of impunity among officials. ADHRB emphasizes that true reform begins with the removal of the Minister of Interior, who is directly responsible for all these violations, and conducting a transparent investigation into the violations leading to the accountability of those responsible for torture.
Bahrain’s King’s Pardon: an act to hide the human rights violations
On Monday, April 8, 2024, Bahrain’s King issued a royal decree pardoning 1,584 prisoners convicted of criminal and riot charges, making it the largest pardon since the Arab Spring in 2011. This pardon was announced ahead of Eid al-Fitr, a time when Muslims are encouraged to seek forgiveness and thus also a time when many Gulf leaders will issue their pardons.
Calling for the Immediate Release of Abdujalil Al-Singace: Analysing Bahrain’s Failure to Implement International Law Standards
On April 4, 2024, Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) and 27 other human rights organizations reiterated the urge to release human rights defender Dr. Abdujalil Al-Singace immediately. The organizations wrote a letter to King Hamad bin Isa al- Khalifa and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, underlining the human rights defender’s health deterioration. The doctor is following a 1000-day liquids-only hunger strike.
Husain Ali Matar was an 18-year-old Bahraini citizen when he was arrested for the final time on 30 October 2022 without a warrant. He was previously arrested on 28 June 2020 when he was a 16-year-old minor student in his second year of middle school and was sentenced to three years in prison following an unfair trial. He was then released on 6 May 2022 under alternative sanctions. During both detentions, he was subjected to physical and psychological torture, enforced disappearance, communication cutoffs, forced confessions, unfair trials, deprivation of prayer, blackmail, and medical neglect. On 20 June 2023, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention adopted anopinion concerning six Bahraini students, including Husain, who deemed their detention as arbitrary. The Working Group called for the immediate and urgent release of all six prisoners and for an impartial investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable. He was sentenced to three years in prison, half of which he served before being released on 15 April 2024 under alternative sanctions issued on 9 April 2024, which included 210 convicts.
Escalating concerns over the lives of minors threatened with death in Saudi Arabia
The undersigned organizations express their grave concern for the lives of minor defendants particularly the two young men, Yousif Al-Manasif and Ali Al-Mubaiouq, who are at imminent risk of execution in Saudi Arabia following confirmed information that the Specialized Criminal Court of Appeal (SCCA) has upheld their death sentences. Their cases were therefore referred to the Supreme Court which will render a final judgment. Approximately a year ago, the Supreme Court upheld final death sentences against Ali al-Subaiti. In addition, final death sentences had been approved by the Supreme Court about a year ago for both Abdullah Al-Derazi and Jalal Al-Labad. The Supreme Court is considered the final judicial stage before execution, which occurs after the king’s signature.
Saudi Arabia Appointed Chair of UN Women’s Rights Forum: Analyzing the Absurdity of the Decision
The UN’s Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) unanimously appointed Saudi Arabia to chair its 69th session in 2025. Abdulaziz Alwasil, the Saudi ambassador to the UN, was elected on March 27 to represent his country. Being chair of the CSW means that Saudi Arabia pivots the political, economic, civil, and social prerogatives of women inside the Commission. In addition, they are the leading actor with the role of highlighting pressing issues for women and girls during conflict. Various human rights advocates have criticized the controversial decision. In particular, the Amnesty International Deputy Director deemed it abysmal. Human Rights Watch (HRW) also warned the UN on its decision to appoint a country that systematically discriminates against women and persecutes rights activists. Unfortunately, it is not the first time that, at the UN level, countries with poor human rights records have been appointed to chair forums promoting social rights.
Oil Production in the GCC: Urgent Evaluation of Human Rights Concerns in the Region
Seventy-six million metric tons of oil reserves are located in the Arab Gulf, constituting around 66% of the global reserves. Oil represents a prominent source of income in the Middle East, proven by the increased production during the last decades. From 1980, oil production passed from 11 million barrels per day to 18 million. The two biggest producers in the region are Saudi Arabia and UAE, respectively, making 39 and 14 percent of the total share. Various studies show that the industry causes significant methane emissions, contributing to global warming and other emissions that create significant health risks for citizens. Notably, on 28 November 2023, the BBC warned that toxic gas in the Middle East is putting millions at risk. In particular, the article showed how oil production was spreading gases over hundreds of kilometers in the region, possibly jeopardizing the health of the residents.
