ADHRB at #HRC56: Saudi Arabia should harmonize its legislation with human rights standards
At the UN
ADHRB at #HRC56: #Bahrain must end discrimination against women by following CEDAW recommendations
Bahrain
Restricted Freedom … The Bahraini Government’s failure to Implement Transitional Justice for Released Individuals
On 8 April 2024, a royal decree was issued pardoning 1,584 prisoners, including several political prisoners. At first glance, the decree was considered a progressive reform in response to human rights demands aimed at improving the country’s dire rights situation. However, the step was incomplete, revealing that it was merely a means for the regime to polish its image before the international community.
The Bahraini Government launched organized arrests targeting opposition leaders, human rights defenders, opposition figures, and every citizen demanding reform and democracy following the popular protests of 2011. Prisons were filled with political prisoners, and repression became prevalent in the country, restricting and criminalizing freedom of expression. The restriction of freedoms extended even beyond the release, turning the country into a large prison that stifles voices calling for reform. As a result, self-censorship prevailed to avoid the guillotine of the judiciary.
Updated: Sheikh Abduljalil Al-Muqdad is a prominent 64-year-old Bahraini religious cleric and political opposition leader and activist. He has been serving a life sentence at Jau Prison since 2011 following his warrantless and violent arrest in relation to pro-democracy demonstrations in the country. During his detention, he has been subjected to torture, religion-based insults, enforced disappearance, an unfair trial, reprisal, and medical neglect. On 16 November 2023, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD)adopted an opinion concerning four elderly Bahraini opposition leaders, including Sheikh Al-Muqdad, concluding that their detention was arbitrary and calling for their immediate and unconditional release, as well as a thorough and independent investigation into the violations of their rights.
UN WGAD finds the detention of three young Bahraini brothers arbitrary and subjected to torture, coerced confessions, unfair trials, reprisals, and medical neglect
The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) published yesterday the opinion it adopted on 22 March 2024 during its 99th session concerning three young Bahraini brothers sentenced between 13 years and six months and 14 years in prison. These Bahraini brothers were arbitrarily arrested and subjected to gruesome human rights violations including torture, unfair trials, reprisals, and medical negligence. These young prisoners are twin brothers Muntadhar and Murtadha Abdali Mohamed Khatam, and their older sibling Mohamed Abdali Mohamed Hasan Khatam. The Working Group found that their detention was arbitrary under Categories I (when it is impossible to invoke a legal basis justifying the deprivation of liberty), and III (when violations of the right to a fair trial are so severe that the detention is rendered arbitrary).
Safeguarding the rights of older people in Bahrain
The Middle East is home to a diverse and dynamic population, with a rich cultural heritage and a rapidly evolving socio-economic landscape. However, amid these changes, the rights of older people often receive insufficient attention. In Bahrain, the plight of older citizens presents a pressing issue that demands urgent action.
Older people in Bahrain often have to deal with several issues, from access to healthcare systems and maintenance of their economic security and independence to fighting social isolation.
Starting with the difficulties in accessing healthcare infrastructures, regardless of the significant investments made by Bahrain in its healthcare systems, equal and specialised care is not always ensured for older people. Despite chronic diseases, mobility challenges, and the demand for long-term care being more common among the elderly, there is a noted shortage of geriatric specialists and comprehensive geriatric care programs.
Osama Nezar AlSagheer was a 19-year-old Bahraini student when he was arrested in 2017 during the suppression of peaceful protests inDuraz, which concerned the denaturalization of prominent Shia religious figure Sheikh Isa Qasim. During his detention, he was subjected to torture, enforced disappearance, solitary confinement, religious-based insults, religious discrimination, isolation, retaliation, medical neglect, unfair trials, harassment, assaults, and ill-treatment. He is currently serving a 61-year prison sentence in Jau Prison. Osama went on several hunger strikes during his detention to protest his ill-treatment and medical neglect but to no avail.
#GameOverSaudi: ADHRB and ECDHR joint women’s rights campaign
Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain, together with the European Centre for Democracy and Human Rights, launches the #GameOverSaudi campaign, a concerted effort to address the women’s rights situation in Saudi Arabia amid the celebration of the Esports World Cup in the country.
The tournament, which arises as the largest global event of its kind, represents the last Saudi effort to divert the international community’s attention from its appalling human rights record. The question is: will you let this happen?
Diverting attention from human rights abuses: the Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia
On July 3, 2024, the Esports World Cup, the largest global event of its kind, will kick off in Saudi Arabia amid controversy in the gaming community. Saudi’s last attempt to become a hub for international esports has, once more, triggered discussions about the ethical implications of hosting major sports -and esports- events in countries with poor human rights records.
