ADHRB Weekly Newsletter #383
View this email in your browser ([link removed])


** Bahrain
------------------------------------------------------------


** Bahrain: “Social Media Misuse” and Suppression of Dissent Violate ICCPR
------------------------------------------------------------

ADHRB remains deeply concerned about the continued systematic suppression of dissent in Bahrain. This occurs through the reduction of freedom of expression and social media usage of individuals, and has pervaded the legal system by way of the Press and Media Bill drafted by the Cabinet of Bahrain in 2019. This bill was drafted to modify the Press Law of 2002, and introduces the harmful concept of “social media misuse” and tougher penalties when the law is breached.

“Social media misuse” is defined as using social media to threaten community peace, cause division, and weaken national unity. This broad definition serves as a ploy for the state-sponsored pattern of systematic suppression of individuals who disapprove of the government. To do so, the bill focuses particularly on crimes of defamation, insult, spreading rumors, and damaging individuals, bodies, entities, and state institutions.

This bill targets independent users of social networking sites––going so far as to criminalize tweets and other activities on social media platforms––as well as journalists and directors of independent newspapers. For example, Al-Wasat, the only independent newspaper in Bahrain according to the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), was forced to close in 2017. Other newspapers have been similarly targeted and forced to shut down, pay large fines, and, in some cases, employees have been forced to serve time in prison for the sole reason of having shared critical views on the government.

Read the full article here ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------


** A Belgian Senator and Member of Parliament Tabled Questions About the Human Rights Situation in Bahrain
------------------------------------------------------------

On 18 November 2020, MP Hugues Bayet submitted a question ([link removed]) in the Belgian Parliament Chamber and on 24 November 2020, another question was submitted in the Belgian Senate by Senator Bert Anciaux. Both Senator Anciaux and MP Bayet’s questions were submitted to Madame Sophie Wilmès, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade, and Federal Cultural Institutions. Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) welcomes these parliamentary questions and thanks both Senator Anciaux and MP Bayet for bringing attention to the ongoing human rights abuses and the plight of human rights defenders and political activists in Bahrain.

MP Bayet asked, translated from French:

“I had already been able to question your predecessor in January 2020 about the human rights situation in Bahrain. Indeed, as many NGOs report, between acts of torture, arbitrary detentions and executions, this country has not been an example in terms of fundamental rights in recent years, even though it is party to various international treaties protecting human rights. Unfortunately, the situation did not improve. In June and July 2020, the Bahraini Court of Cassation confirmed the death sentences of four new people. They now have no access to any means of appeal to hope to escape this tragic situation and their sentences can be applied at any time.

“Twelve people are currently on death row in Bahrain because of their political opposition to the current regime. This despite the fact that all of them have confessed under torture. Their only hope is that the king of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Kahlifa, will decide to commute their sentences.

Read the full article here ([link removed])


** Profile in Persecution
------------------------------------------------------------
[link removed]


**
Mohamed AbdulNabi Abdulla (Al-Khoor)
------------------------------------------------------------

Mohamed AbdulNabi Abdulla, also known as Mohamed Al-Khoor, was an 18-year-old law student at the University of Bahrain, in addition to working as a bus driver, when he was arbitrarily arrested by Bahraini authorities on 29 August 2014. During his detention, he was subjected to several human rights violations. He is currently held at the Dry Dock Detention Center.

At 2 a.m. on 29 August 2014, police officers and officers in civilian clothes broke into the house of Mohamed’s friend where Mohamed was present at that time without presenting any arrest or search warrant. Mohamed was arrested and then taken to the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID), where he was interrogated for 15 days. The reason for his arrest, according to authorities, was the protests occurring in the area where he lives as well as the terrorist acts taking place in Karana.

During the first 13 days at the CID, Mohamed was subjected to enforced disappearance, as his parents had no idea about his location or his whereabouts, and his lawyer was unable to attend the interrogations during the whole interrogation period, since he was prohibited from knowing both his location and the charges against Mohamed. Three days after his arrest, Mohamed was brought to the scene of the Karana explosion, Karana seacoast, where he was filmed playing the role he was accused of.

Read the full article here ([link removed])


** GCC in the Wire
------------------------------------------------------------


**
------------------------------------------------------------


**
------------------------------------------------------------
- In reversal of Trump move, Biden to keep levies on UAE aluminium (Al Jazeera) ([link removed])

United States President Joe Biden will maintain a tariff rate of 10 percent on aluminium imports from the United Arab Emirates, reversing Donald Trump’s move to end the levies on his last day as president, the White House said.

- The Dark Reality Behind Saudi Arabia’s Utopian Dreams (New York Times) ([link removed])

To the rest of the world, Saudi Arabia may look like a quasi-medieval kingdom where women still struggle for basic rights, where bearded clerics run the courts and where convicts are routinely beheaded by sword in public. But the Saudi monarchy — like its neighbors in Dubai and Abu Dhabi — has long cherished dreams of leapfrogging into a high-tech future. The last Saudi king created plans for six new cities in the desert, all billed as transformative steps toward a world beyond oil.

- Yemen 'Arab Spring' unity torn asunder by hunger and war (Reuters) ([link removed])

SANAA/TAIZ, Yemen (Reuters) - Ten years after joining an uprising in Yemen against autocratic rule and an economy in shambles, the same activists find themselves on opposite sides of a war that has pushed the country to the brink of famine with dim prospects for peace.

- Italy blocks sale of missiles to Saudi Arabia and UAE (Reuters) ([link removed])

ROME (Reuters) - Italy has halted the sale of thousands of missiles to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said on Friday, citing Rome’s commitment to restoring peace in war-ravaged Yemen and protecting human rights.

- Yemen’s central bank dismisses UN corruption allegations (AP) ([link removed])

CAIRO (AP) — Yemen’s central bank dismissed United Nations allegations that the Yemeni government misused millions of dollars from Saudi Arabia to buy essential commodities for the Yemeni people.

- US puts hold on foreign arms sales, including F-35s to UAE (AP) ([link removed])

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has put a temporary hold on several major foreign arms sales initiated by former President Donald Trump.
[link removed]

============================================================


Are you a victim of a human rights abuse in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, or other GCC states?

Document your case with the Special Procedures of the United Nations through
** ADHRB's UN Complaint Program ([link removed])
.

Copyright © 2017 ADHRB, All rights reserved.
Contact us at: ** [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
| ** update subscription preferences ([link removed])

** Twitter ([link removed])
** Twitter ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Website ([link removed])
** Website ([link removed])
** YouTube ([link removed])
** YouTube ([link removed])

This email was sent to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
why did I get this? ([link removed]) unsubscribe from this list ([link removed]) update subscription preferences ([link removed])
Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain . 1001 Connecticut Avenue NW . Suite 205 . Washington, DC 20036 . USA

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp
[link removed]