Wednesday, 1 July 2015, Issue #53

BIRD Weekly Newsletter

In this Issue
• BIRD at HRC29 • Jau Report • Support Dr. Singace  •

 Inside Jau: Report Finds Rampant Torture and Abuse Inside Bahrain’s Political Prison

The report, Inside Jau: Government Brutality in Bahrain’s Central Prison, investigates the Bahraini government’s response to a prison riot at Jau Prison in March 2015. It finds that psychological and physical torture, prevention of medical care, and massive overcrowding remain a systemic failure of Bahrain’s prison system.

“Bahrain Political Prisoners and Human Rights Defenders” Event Summary #HRC29

On 26 June 2015, Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB), the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD), the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), the International Federation for Human Rights, World Organization Against Torture, Amnesty International, the Gulf Center for Human Rights (GCHR), Alsalam Foundation, and Human Rights Watch, co-sponsored an event entitled “Political Prisoners & Human Rights Defenders in Bahrain” at the 29th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Take Action

NGOs are increasingly concerned about the health and well-being of prominent Bahraini academic, activist and blogger Dr Abduljalil Al-Singace.  Dr Al-Singace, who is serving a life sentence for his peaceful opposition activities, began his hunger strike on 21 March 2015 in protest against the deprivation of basic rights and ill-treatment of prisoners in Jau prison.

To mark the 100th day of Dr Al-Singace’s hunger strike PEN International along with BIRD, BCHR and ADHRB call on their supporters to take urgent action on his behalf.

Updates from the Ground

Several arrested including 7 without legal warrants

Human rights groups denounce US resumption of military aid to Bahrain 

Bahrain: political activist jailed for speaking out

News & Commentaries

BBC: US resumes aid to military in Bahrain

New York Times: U.S. Lifts Ban on Bahrain Aid

Middle East Eye: Bahrain’s human rights still fall short, despite Washington policy shift

AlJazeera: Bahrain’s human rights still fall short, despite Washington policy shift

RTnews: ​Bahrain to get more US arms as authorities keep cracking down on protestors