On 30 March 2023, the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) launched its Annual Report. The report notes that, “Similarly to previous years, arbitrary arrest and detention remain one of the most pervasive forms of repression used against peaceful human rights defenders (HRDs) across the MENA region, and HRDs and other civil society actors continue to face torture and ill-treatment, particularly in places of detention, with impunity.”

Another alarming trend is the concerted efforts of Gulf countries with atrocious human rights records to consolidate their already significant economic and geo-political power by projecting a progressive image on the world stage. One example of this is the publicity generated by Qatar during the FIFA World Cup despite its appalling human rights record.

The past year has also seen a worrying crackdown on women’s rights, particularly in Iran where peaceful protesters continue to bravely demand women’s rights and a freer society in spite of the authorities’ oppressive tactics, including the arrest of 20,000 and charges resulting in imprisonment and the death penalty.

The report, written by GCHR Researcher Claire Nevin, notes that, “Throughout 2022, GCHR, alongside its local partners and international allies, continued to play a vital role in ensuring that cases that might otherwise not receive the attention they deserve are brought to the fore in predominantly English-speaking media and advocacy circles. GCHR continued its work in coalition with partner organisations on campaigns for imprisoned HRDs including its founding director Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja in Bahrain and Advisory Board member Ahmed Mansoor in the UAE.” On 20 March 2023, we marked the sixth year anniversary of Mansoor’s arrest, and on 09 April 2023, we will mark the 12^th anniversary of Al-Khawaja’s arrest.

GCHR’s Executive Director Khalid Ibrahim said, “It was a very busy year for all members of our team. The most successful achievement we had was getting the UN ECOSOC status. We will use this access to try to help free human rights defenders in prison, including Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, who is serving life in prison in Bahrain and is denied access to a cardiologist; and Ahmed Mansoor, who is serving a 10-year prison sentence in solitary confinement in the UAE.” Ibrahim also mentioned the case of his friend Dr. Mohamed Al-Qahtani, who remains in prison in Saudi Arabia, despite the end of his 10-year sentence in November 2022.

“Women human rights defenders (WHRDs) in the Gulf are severely targeted not only for their activism, but also for their identities as women,” said Weaam Youssef, GCHR’s WHRDs Programme Manager. She noted that WHRDs also face gender-based violence, harassment (online and offline) and targeting of their families in the face of patriarchal systems such as the guardianship system. “Despite these challenges, women human rights defenders continue to play a vital role in advocating fiercely for the rights of women, including in conflict situations and times of disaster.” she added. “We need to invest more in collective work and partnerships… Solidarity is needed more than ever.” She concluded.

Michael Khambatta, GCHR’s Geneva Representative, outlined advocacy efforts generally and those in Geneva more specifically, including outreach to States at the Human Rights Council, and other UN human rights mechanisms, to strengthen calls for action in the face of violations by several countries in the MENA region.

Kristina Stockwood, GCHR’s Fundraising & Development Manager, noted the success of GCHR’s campaigns in the past year, including the We Act Together campaign with the Innovation for Change MENA Hub, and the ongoing activities of the Alternative Human Rights Expo, for which we will hold another event in November 2023.

In light of the patterns of oppression across the region documented in its Annual Report, GCHR makes the following recommendation: 

1. Governments across the MENA region repeal vague and punitive legislation that exerts a chilling effect on or even criminalises peaceful human rights work, freedom of expression and freedom of association;
2. Governments across the MENA region enact legislation on human rights, freedom of expression and assembly and information technology in line with international human rights norms;
3. Governments across the MENA region repeal archaic and oppressive laws limiting women’s freedom and enact progressive, rights-protecting legislation fit for the modern era;
4. Authorities across the region tackle impunity by enabling thorough, transparent and independent investigations into the perpetration of attacks, assassinations, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, torture and ill-treatment against HRDs, civil society activists, journalists, lawyers and academics;
5. The international community cease to embolden the region’s governments in committing human rights violations with impunity by pandering to the efforts of oppressive countries to sanitise their image on the world stage.

You can watch the Event launch on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/bj4_Pp3wz-Y

To read the report: “Human Rights in the Gulf Region and Neighbouring Countries: 2022 Annual Report of the Gulf Centre for Human Rights”, click HERE.