Joint appeal to U.N. protests torture of detained rights defenders in Bahrain

Over 50 NGOs worldwide signed a joint appeal to the U.N. against the ill-treatment and torture of detained human rights defenders, activists and photojournalists in Bahrain, calling for U.N. and Red Cross visits.

President Obama urged to help release Bahraini human rights defenders and activists

In a letter to the US President, 40 human rights organisations called for US support to release 13 Bahrainis, unjustly jailed by the Bahraini government, one of the strongest allies of the US in the region.

End persecution of human rights defenders in Bahrain now, says appeal to UNHRC

NGOs lobbying at the UN call for the release of human rights defenders, and to ensure that those who participate in Bahrain's UPR process do not face reprisals.

Human rights groups call for immediate release of all prisoners of conscience in Bahrain

Rights groups criticise High Court decision to uphold "politically motivated" sentences of 13 imprisoned human rights defenders and political leaders.

Release Bahraini human rights activists now, say international groups

A group of 46 human rights organisations led by IFEX calls on member states of the United Nations Human Rights Council to urge Bahrain to release human rights defenders and peaceful opposition activists.

Rights organisations alarmed over threats to civil society after trip to UN

Human rights defenders, activists, journalists, doctors and lawyers who attended Bahrain UPR events in Geneva in May with IFEX members and partners have been threatened for speaking out about violations.

ARTICLE 19's submission to the Universal Periodic Review

ARTICLE 19 has called on the UN member states to urge the authorities to commit to preventing harassment of journalists and human rights defenders, stop controlling and censoring the media, increase internet freedom and end violations of the right to peaceful protest.

One hundred organisations call to end assault on freedom of speech, and to free all detained human rights defenders and netizens

UPDATE: The president of IFEX member Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), Nabeel Rajab, was re-arrested and sentenced to three years in prison on 16 August. Many other human rights defenders remain in prison, including BCHR's founder Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, and his daughter, Zainab Al-Khawaja.

Fifty IFEX members and partners call for freedom for Bahraini human rights defenders, bloggers and activists

In advance of the Formula 1, 50 IFEX members and partners call for detained activists and human rights defenders to be freed, including blogger and activist Abduljalil Al-Singace and human rights activist Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, founder of IFEX member the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, who is ailing in prison since starting a hunger strike on 8 February.

Grand Prix decision ignores abuses, says Human Rights Watch

The decision to go ahead with the Grand Prix on April 22, 2012, gives the country's rulers the opportunity they are seeking to obscure the seriousness of the country’s human rights situation, says Human Rights Watch.

Nine human rights organisations raise freedom of expression demands with Arab League

Among the demands expressed by the rights organisations is the immediate release of human rights activist Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, whose health is severely compromised after 50 days of hunger strike.

On World Day Against Cyber Censorship, BCHR calls for action from authorities

Amid last year's events, many websites were reported blocked due to their reporting on casualties among protestors and uploading photos and videos of peaceful protests being brutally attacked by security forces.

Fifty rights groups call on King to free Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, whose life is at risk in prison

Fifty IFEX members and other rights groups call on the Bahrain authorities to release from prison human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, whose life is at risk since beginning a hunger strike on 8 February.

One year on, authorities urged to address abuses, implement comprehensive reform

For months the government has made token gestures rather than implement reforms that address the root causes of the grievances of the protestors, says Freedom House.

BCHR concerned about Bahrain's election to UNESCO education bureau

BCHR demands that Bahrain's membership in the UNESCO IBE be frozen, and contingent on the authorities taking steps to put an end to the targeting of members of the education sector.

Freedom House opposes US arms sale

Because the new arms sale is being broken up into multiple small pieces, it does not fall under Congressional notification requirements and details do not have to be made public. 



International Mission to Bahrain Report says promises for reform unfulfilled, while situation deteriorates

A report from a six-member mission of international organisations to Bahrain last November called out Bahraini authorities for failing to deliver on promises of reform, with rights violations continuing on a daily basis and rights activists jailed for life.

International delegation calls for end to free expression violations and human rights defenders to be freed

Six groups, including three IFEX members visited Bahrain this past week to investigate freedom of expression, and attended the launch of reports by human rights groups and an independent commission of inquiry.

CIHRS hosts panel discussion, film screening on free expression crisis

CIHRS screened the Al Jazeera documentary "Shouting in the dark" and hosted a panel discussion on Bahrain in parallel with the recent meeting of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva about the situation in Bahrain.

IFEX calls on Bahrain's rulers to end detention and torture of those jailed solely for peacefully expressing themselves

IFEX is alarmed at the life sentences handed down last week to human rights and political activists and bloggers, including founder of IFEX member BCHR.