The undersigned 40 organisations call on the international community to publicly condemn the ongoing crackdown on human rights defenders, who face harassment, imprisonment, and forced exile for peacefully exercising their internationally recognised...
CATEGORY: Middle East and North Africa

Bahrain: Nabeel Rajab and Zainab Al-Khawaja trials postponed
The prominent human rights defenders are facing charges of insulting government institutions on Twitter and publicly insulting the king respectively

Bahrain: Rights activist jailed over tweet is denied bail
The trial of Index award winner Nabeel Rajab has been adjourned until 29 November
Foreign Secretary: Use UK influence on Bahrain to free Nabeel Rajab, Zainab Al-Khawaja and Ghada Jamsheer
Dear Mr. Hammond, We are writing to you in light of your current tour of Gulf Cooperation Council countries regarding the arbitrary arrest and detention of human rights defenders Nabeel Rajab, Zainab Al-Khawaja and Ghada Jamsheer in Bahrain for...

Rights groups call on UK to press Bahrain to release human rights defenders
Nine human rights organisations called on the British government on Friday to speak out publicly in the case of activists currently being detained in Bahrain. Prominent human rights defenders Nabeel Rajab, Zainab Al-Khawaja and Ghada Jamsheer have...
Bahrain: Maryam Al-Khawaja urges UK to speak out on human rights violations

Lebanon: Censorship Bureau approves critical play
Censorship body gives green light to latest play from Index award nominee Lucien Bourjeily, despite being featured heavily in the work

Bahrain: Nabeel Rajab to face trial for expressing opinion
Human rights activist Nabeel Rajab will stand trial on 19 October for allegedly insulting Bahraini government institutions on Twitter.

Index calls on UK to speak out against Bahraini human rights abuses after Rajab arrest
Index award winner Nabeel Rajab has been detained for seven days while being investigated for claims that he offended the Ministry of Interior over Twitter

Shout Art Loud shortlisted for Amnesty Awards
The interactive documentary shows how graffiti artists, cartoonists, dancers and actors are fighting back against rising levels of violence and sexism on the streets of Cairo