Wednesday, 8 July 2015, Issue #54
BIRD Weekly Newsletter
In this Issue
• US Losing Leverage on Bahrain • NGOs support Dr. Al-Singace • Sign EDM 241 •
Sayed Alwadaei: Losing Leverage on Bahrain
07 July 2015: Last week, the State Department announced the resumption of “security assistance” to Bahrain. This ended a four-year ban on the transfer of arms that the United States put into effect in 2011, after the Bahraini government’s harsh crackdown on Arab Spring protests.
I was arrested on March 16, 2011, a day after the government announced a state of emergency, a month after the protests started. A military court sentenced me to prison for protesting and talking to the media. What they did to me in prison will stay with me for life.
Read the full report here
NGOs Call on Bahrain to release Dr Abduljalil Al-Singace
03 July 2015: Nine Bahraini and international NGOs and the University College Union launched a campaign this week marking the 100th day of detained human rights defender, Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace’s hunger strike.
The Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD), Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain (ADHRB), Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), Gulf Center for Human Rights (GCHR), English PEN, PEN International, Index on Censorship, Scholars at Risk, Committee on Academic Freedom of the Middle East Studies Association and the University College Union have joined together to express their solidarity with the imprisoned activist.
Read the full statement here
Take Action
Support Dr Al.Singace, who is serving a life sentence for his peaceful opposition activities
Ask your MP to sign EDM 241 on the growing concerns over restrictions against free speech in Bahrain
Updates from the Ground
52 arrested including 5 children
30 trials postponed
27 individual sentenced to a total of 223 years in prison
Majeed Milad remanded for 7 days pending investigation
Nafeesa al-Asfoor released from prison after more than 2 years
Security forces continue to use excessive force including tear gas and shotgun pellets against protesters
#TwitterNation
Weekly Highlights
US/Bahrain: Bad Move to Resume Arms Sales
Bahrains Prison Swap: A Strategy or a Coincidence?
The Non-Existent Progress in Bahrain
News & Commentaries
Amnesty International: Bahrain: Further information: One of two women protesters released
The Atlantic: Going to Jail for Upholding the Hippocratic Oath
BCHR: BCHR Condemns 5-Year Prison Sentence Against Political Leader Fadhel Abbas
Index on Censorship: Bahrain: Free Dr. Abuljalil Al-Singace
BCHR: Bahrain: Court ignores complaints of torture and continues to try Mr Khalil al-Helwaji
LobeLog Foreign Policy: US Sends Conflicting Signals to Bahrain
