On 31 January 2015, Bahrain's Ministry of the Interior revoked the citizenship of 72 individuals, including journalists, bloggers, and political and human rights activists, rendering many of them stateless - its latest attempt to crack down on...
CATEGORY: Middle East and North Africa

Egypt: “Peter will not rest until his colleagues are freed”
As journalist Peter Greste returns to Australia, his two colleagues Canadian-Egyptian journalist Mohamed Fadel Fahmy and Egyptian journalist Baher Mohamed languish in an Egyptian prison.

Bahrain: Nine arrested for “misusing social media”
Nine people have been arrested in Bahrain for “misusing social media”, a charge which is punishable by a fine or up to two years in prison.

Bahrain: Nabeel Rajab sentenced for a tweet
Human rights campaigner Nabeel Rajab was sentenced to six months imprisonment by a Bahraini court.

Chris Ames: Who’s behind the Chilcot Inquiry delay?
Despite his repeated assertions that it is nothing to do with him, it is now clear that British Prime Minister David Cameron not only has the power to hold back the long-awaited Chilcot Inquiry into the UK’s involvement in the Iraq war until after...

Tell Bahrain to drop charges against activist over tweet, demand human rights organisations
In October a Bahraini court ruled that prominent human rights defender Nabeel Rajab would face criminal charges stemming from a single tweet

23 Jan: Vigil for Saudi blogger sentenced to 1,000 lashes
Index on Censorship, English PEN and Article 19 will hold a peaceful vigil in front of the embassy of Saudi Arabia at 9am on Friday 23 January in condemnation of the ongoing flogging and imprisonment of Raif Badawi. Please meet at the Curzon Street...

Gay Egyptians living in “constant fear” as crackdown from authorities and media worsens
In recent months, 150 suspected homosexuals have been arrested and detained, while reporting by pro-government media has further fuelled prejudice against gay people. Shahira Amin reports

Bahrain: Zainab Al-Khawaja sentenced to additional 16 months
Bahraini human rights activist was handed an additional 16 month sentence for insulting a public official, according to her sister Maryam Al-Khawaja, co-director of the Gulf Center for Human Rights

Bahrain: Three years in jail for activist for “insulting the king”
Zainab Al-Khawaja was on trial for ripping up a photo of King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa