The BIRD Weekly #60: Roundtable on the UK Policy on Bahrain

Wednesday, 19 August 2015, Issue #60

THE BIRD WEEKLY

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In this Issue:

 BIRD/HRW Event Summary   Ebrahim Sharif Charged  US to Sell Arms to Bahrain 


HIGHLIGHTS FROM BIRD THIS WEEK

[Video Available] Event Summary: Bahrain Human Rights Challenges in 2015 and the UK’s Policy

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13 August 2015 – The Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy and Human Rights Watch held a round-table discussion regarding concerns regarding human rights in Bahrain and UK policy towards the country. Chaired by Nicholas McGeehan, Gulf researcher at Human Rights Watch (HRW), the discussion also included speakers Shane Enright, Global Trade Union Adviser at Amnesty UK, Kevin Laue, Legal officer at Redress and Isa Al-Ali, a Bahraini torture survivor recently granted asylum by UK court. The discussion was attended by representatives from a number of organisations including Amnesty International, Index on Censorship, Reprieve, NASUWT, English Pen and Chatham House amongst others.

Watch the full video summary here
Read the event summary here


US Moves to Sell Arms to Bahrain as Senate Resolves to Reinstate Ban

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13 August 2015 – The United States Department of Defence notified the United States Congress of its intent to sell new arms sales to Bahrain last week, a move the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) condemns strongly. In an interesting twist of timing, the U.S. Senate introduced a bipartisan resolution the day prior to the announcement of the sale, which ironically would ban the sale of certain arms to Bahrain until the country implements reform.

Read more here.


BIRD Policy Researcher on MEE: UK Risks British Businesses by Backing Bahrain

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The UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) recently published its Overseas Business Risk (OBR) report on Bahrain. Analysing British business potential in the kingdom, the report concluded that “Bahrain is an important partner and base for UK companies in the Gulf given its position as a major trading hub in the region”. Factors such as strong economic growth, positive political reforms and an increasingly diversified economy are “good fundamentals” for investor confidence, it said.Yet with continued political unrest, falling oil prices, increasing government debt and unethical business practises, are British businesses being put at risk in Bahrain?

Read full article on the Middle East Eye


WHAT CAN YOU DO?


Take Action

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Send a Pen & Sign the Petition


FROM THE GROUND IN BAHRAIN

Updates from the Ground

Issue No. Individuals  % change since last week  Children Total Years
 Arrests  29 14.71% (-)  3
 Trials  –
 Sentences 11  – 81 (prison)
 Remands  –  –

In the Spotlight:

Ebrahim Sharif charged with promoting change and inciting hatred against the regime  

Taiba Darwish detention renewed for 7th time since May


Dr. Abduljalil Singace reaches 150 days of hunger strike 

  Independence Day protests suppressed using tear gas and shotguns by police

 

 


THE BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA

#TwitterNation

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FROM THE MEDIA HOME AND ABROAD


Weekly Highlights

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Senators Offer Reality Check on Bahrain
BIRD’s Sayed Ahmed writes alongside ADHRB’s Kate Kizer on a bipartisan initiative to stop US arms sales to Bahrain.
Read full article on Al Jazeera America

Human Rights Watch: Release Ebrahim Sharif

Index on Censorship: Magazine sent to jailed academic and blogger

Take Action & Email Your MP to ask that they support the case of Dr Abduljalil AlSingace by signing EDM 107

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