Advocacy / Bahrain
Rights groups condemn F1’s “double standard” for racing in Bahrain amidst “continued institutionalized repression”
In a joint letter to the CEO of the Formula One Group, Stefano Domenicali, 27 human rights organisations called on Formula One to publicly acknowledge the human rights violations taking place in Bahrain and refrain from contributing to the sportswashing of such abuses. The coalition of organisations further called on Formula One to review their official policy on racing in Bahrain, as well as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, given their roles in the military campaign in Yemen.
NGOs urge RoyalJet to clarify involvement in wrongful extradition of dissident Ahmed Jaafar Mohamed Ali to Bahrain
On January 24, 2022, Serbian authorities extradited Bahraini dissident Ahmed Jaafar Mohamed Ali back to Bahrain, where he faces torture. The extradition, which was in violation of the European Court of Human Rights’ request for interim measures, was carried out by UAE-based charter operator, RoyalJet. On January 31, 2022, over 10 human rights NGOs wrote to the CEO of RoyalJet, Rob Dicastri, requesting that the company clarify its involvement in Ali’s wrongful extradition.
Bahrain: Request for support to free imprisoned human rights defender Dr Abduljalil AlSingace, on hunger strike since July 2021
MENA Rights Group joins a coalition of 27 human rights organisations urging the United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary, the United States Secretary of State, Germany’s Foreign Minister, the EU Special Representative for Human Rights and Secretary-General of the Council of Europe to call for the immediate and unconditional release of Bahraini academic and human rights defender, Dr Abduljalil AlSingace. The letter below is addressed to the EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the EU Special Representative for Human Rights and Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
Call for the release of prisoners of conscience in the Gulf in light of the lifting of Qatar blockade
On January 5, 2021, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Egypt, signed a “solidarity and stability” agreement, at the Gulf Cooperation Council summit in Al-Ulah, Saudi Arabia, ending the blockade on Qatar.
NGOs urge Asia-Pacific Group to oppose consideration of Bahrain for President of the Human Rights Council
On December 1st, 2020, MENA Rights Group and 20 other NGOs submitted a joint letter to call on the Human Rights Council's Asia-Pacific Group to refrain from considering Bahrain for President of the Council. In the light of the country's deteriorating human rights record, the election of Bahrain would fundamentally undermine the integrity of the Council:
Bahrain: NGOs appeal to King to commute death sentences
On August 11, 2020, MENA Rights Group, Amnesty International, Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, Gulf Institute for Democracy and Human Rights, World Organisation against Torture and Salam for Democracy and Human Rights, sent a letter to the King of Bahrain urging him to commute all death sentences and establish a moratorium on executions.