Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement during his visit to Bahrain where he met with the family of Nabeel Rajab, a human rights activist who is in prison for being critical of the Bahraini government: 

“America should be a consistent voice for democracy and human rights, which is why I went to visit Nabeel Rajab’s family in Bahrain. Advocating for the freedom of expression must be an element of every bilateral relationship, which is why I raised his case, along with the broader need to protect open civil discourse, with Bahraini government officials I met with in Manama,” said Murphy. 

Read the full statement here.

On 21 November, a joint letter on the medical treatment of prisoners in Bahrain, signed by 52 Members of the European Parliament, was sent to the Head of the European Union Delegation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the Sultanate of Oman, Mr. Michele Cervone d’Urso. The letter was signed by MEPs representing all of the political groups in the European Parliament.

Read the full statement here.

New and Notable

Profiles in Persecution: Mansoor AbdulWahed AlDolabi
 

On 13 September 2019, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences, the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, and Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences published an Urgent Appeal to the Government of Saudi Arabia, citing concern for the human rights abuses faced by Ms. Sylvia Nandawula.  

Read the full statement here.