• Human Rights in Bahrain
    An independent commission of inquiry, appointed by King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, concluded in 2011 that security forces had used excessive force against peaceful protesters during demonstrations, and had arbitrarily arrested, detained, tortured, ill-treated, and denied them fair trials. Authorities did investigate some low-ranking security officials in connection with torture allegations. However, protest leaders remain behind bars and no high-ranking officials have been held responsible for abuses. Security forces used excessive force in 2012 to disperse anti-government protests. Authorities jailed human rights defenders and people who participated in peaceful demonstrations or criticized officials. The government dissolved an Islamic opposition party.
  • Bahrain: F1 Ignores Rights Abuses Ahead of Race
    International racing bodies responsible for scheduling the Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix from April 19 to 21, 2013, have taken no steps to address human rights abuses that appear to be directly linked to the event.
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    World Report 2013: Bahrain
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Bahrain

  • Bahrain: F1 Ignores Rights Abuses Ahead of Race
    Apr 17, 2013
    International racing bodies responsible for scheduling the Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix from April 19 to 21, 2013, have taken no steps to address human rights abuses that appear to be directly linked to the event.
  • Bahrain: Targeted Raids and Arbitrary Detentions
    Apr 10, 2013
    Bahraini authorities are carrying out home raids and arbitrarily detaining opposition protesters in advance of the Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend of April 19 to 21, 2013, Human Rights Watch said today, based on information from a variety of local sources.
  • Is Bahrain serious about reform?
    Mar 15, 2013
    Bahrain’s Sunni ruling family and their allies in Washington and London say they are pinning their hopes on a new “national dialogue” to break the bitter stalemate with the country’s political opposition among the majority Shia population. But a just settlement will remain elusive unless the government delivers on two outstanding reforms: accountability at the highest levels of the country’s security forces for their abusive response to the 2011 uprisings, and freedom for the country’s unjustly imprisoned opposition and human rights leaders.
  • Bahrain: Ministry Statements Unfounded
    Mar 7, 2013
  • Bahrain: No Progress on Reform
    Feb 28, 2013
    Bahrain’s rulers have made no progress on key reform promises, failing to release unjustly imprisoned activists or to hold accountable high-level officials responsible for torture, Human Rights Watch said today at a news conference in Manama.
  • Joint NGO Letter to the Member States of the United Nations: Supporting Human Rights Accountability and Reform in Bahrain at the UN Human Rights Council
    Feb 14, 2013
    The Council should explicitly address the ongoing human rights violations taking place in the country and the lack of sufficient implementation by the government of Bahrain of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry’s (BICI) recommendations, especially those calling for accountability. We also urge the Council members to call for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to monitor and report on the human rights situation within the country.
  • Should Companies Take Responsibility for Repression?
    Feb 13, 2013
    The Arab uprisings have been a poignant reminder of how the Internet can promote free expression and assembly, but also how governments can try abuse it. The medium used by demonstrators to organize protests and bring medical supplies to Tahrir Square, for example, was also used by the government to pinpoint human rights defenders for arrest, harassment, and even torture.
  • Bahrain: Widespread Suppression, Scant Reforms
    Jan 31, 2013
    Bahrain’s failure to release political prisoners or hold accountable high officials responsible for torture, and its escalating campaign to silence human rights defenders, exposes the government's fraudulent claims that it is carrying out promised reforms, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2013.
  • Bahrain: Highest Court Upholds Grossly Unfair Convictions
    Jan 7, 2013
    Bahrain’s Court of Cassation ruling on January 7, 2013, upholding lengthy prison terms of 13 prominent dissidents appears to confirm the inability of Bahrain’s judicial system to protect basic rights. A military court had convicted the dissidents solely for exercising their rights to free expression and peaceful assembly.
  • Bahrain: Charges Against Rights Defender Raise Concerns
    Jan 3, 2013
    Bahraini authorities should provisionally release a human rights activist who faces charges over his tweet reporting about a wounded demonstrator. The activist, Sayed Yusuf al-Muhafadha, has been charged with “willfully disseminating false news” amounting to “incitement to violence.”
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