Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB) participated in the 48th session of the Human Rights Council, which commenced virtually on September 13, 2021 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. During this session, ADHRB delivered nine online oral interventions regarding human rights violations in Bahrain and Yemen. Moreover, in cooperation with the Gulf Centre for Human Rights, ADHRB organized a webinar to demand the unconditional release of all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience from Bahraini prisons. Amongst ADHRB’s nine interventions, seven addressed the human rights situation in Bahrain, condemning violations against human rights defenders and opposition leaders such as Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace, Sheikh Zuhair Ashour, and Ali AlWazir, and Hassan Mushaima, and further demanded that pressure be exerted on Bahrain to unconditionally release all political prisoners. During its interventions on Bahrain, ADHRB also called on the Human Rights Council to take serious measures to facilitate access for Special Rapporteurs to visit Bahrain, in order for them to document the presence of systematic human rights violations. ADHRB also condemned the prevailing culture of impunity in Bahrain; illustrated by the authorities’ failure to hold officials such as Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the King’s son, and members of the Ministry of Interior, accountable for their human rights violations.
In its interventions, ADHRB also raised the issue of systematic religious discrimination against the Shia population by Bahraini authorities, including the violations committed against Shia during the Ashura celebrations. In this context, ADHRB demanded that the Bahraini government cease their support for sectarian hate speech, and called upon the Council to appoint a Special Rapporteur for Bahrain to monitor and submit reports regarding the violations committed by the AlKhalifa regime. ADHRB’s interventions also tackled the issue of human rights violations in Yemen; urging the Yemeni government to cooperate with the United Nations in investigating crimes committed, demanding the opening of all airports and ports in the country, and calling for an end to this incessant war.

Read the full article here

We, the undersigned human rights organisations, are writing to express our concern regarding recent reports that Project Associates has been hired to promote the candidacy of Ahmed Al Raisi, the General Inspector of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Interior, to the presidency of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL).
We are also aware of previous reports that a contract was signed between the National Media Council of the UAE and Project Associates in 2017.
Given the human rights record in the UAE, the continued abuses perpetrated by state security forces under Al Raisi’s leadership, and the multiple allegations of torture filed against him in France and the United Kingdom, we ask you to fully consider your moral and legal responsibilities under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and urge you to terminate your contract and cease your representation of the UAE government and Mr. Ahmed Al Raisi.

Read the full article here

Abdulla AbdulKarim AlAnjawi is a 23-year-old Bahraini national who was arrested without a warrant from his home by Bahraini authorities in the beginning of 2021. He has been subjected to torture and ill-treatment both during interrogations and while in detention at Jau prison, where he is serving his sentence.

At dawn on the 4th of January 2021, officers in civilian clothing knocked on Abdulla’s house door, waking his father and interrogating him about his son’s whereabouts. They then proceeded to wake Abdulla up, handcuff him, and drag him into their car. They also searched the entire house and took some of Abdulla’s belongings, including all of his phones. Authorities did not present a warrant or give a reason for the arrest.

The day after his arrest, Abdulla called his family to inform them that he was at the CID. He remained in detention for 11 days without any contact, after which he was taken to the Office of the Public Prosecution, with his lawyer present. He was only allowed to call his family again after being transferred to Dry Dock Detention Center. During interrogations, Abdulla was threatened, so he did not mention the details of his torture out of fear. He only mentioned to his family that the torture he had undergone was so severe that he was forced to give false confessions to the charges that were raised against him. The torture resulted in various injuries, including back and feet pain, which he did not receive treatment for, despite requesting to see a doctor.

Read the full article here