On 8 August 2019, the Bahraini government released two prominent female political prisoners, Ameera AlQashami and Faten Naser. Two days later, the government released a third prominent political prisoner, Najah Yusuf. Najah, who was serving a three-year prison sentence, was pardoned and released along with 104 other individuals on the occasion of Eid Al Adha. Ameera and Faten were released under a non-custodial, alternative sentencing initiative. While they must serve the rest of their sentence, they can do so through alternative sanctions, including options like community service, house arrest, and restitution. While Najah, Ameera, and Faten were released, thousands of political prisoners remain incarcerated in Bahrain. Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) welcomes their release, but we remain deeply concerned over ongoing restrictions on free expression, free assembly and association, and widespread and systematic arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, and torture, as well as a pervasive climate of impunity. We call upon the Government of Bahrain to pardon and release all political prisoners, to end restrictions on civil society and free expression, and to prosecute cases of impunity.

Read the full statement here.

New and Notable

Profiles in Persecution: Abdulla Jaafar Yusuf
 

On 27 May 2019, the United Nation (UN) Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief; and Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, published an Urgent Appeal addressed to Saudi Arabia concerning the risk of execution of Dr. Abbas Alabbad as a result of an unfair trial and discrimination based on religious belief.

Read the full statement here.