The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) was active at the 44th session of the United Nation’s Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, which ran from 30 June to 17 July 2020, carrying out online advocacy to support human rights defenders (HRDs) and defending public freedoms in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. GCHR held three online side events with NGO partners and UN experts.
All HRDs must be freed in Bahrain
On 09 July 2020, all participants at an online side event welcomed the release on 09 June 2020 of Nabeel Rajab, one of the most prominent HRDs in Bahrain, and called for the Bahraini government to release all HRDs and others detained solely for peacefully expressing their opinions. The event, “No prosperous future or sustainable peace in Bahrain without the protection of human rights defenders”, was attended by 80 people and organised by GCHR, Americans for Democracy & Human Rights (ADHRB), CIVICUS, International Media Support (IMS) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT).
During the event, moderator GCHR Executive Director Khalid Ibrahim, and speakers Michel Forst, the former UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of HRDs, Preethi Nallu, a journalist and IMS Advocacy Consultant, Husain Abdullah, ADHRB Executive Director, and Susan Wilding, Head of CIVICUS’s Geneva office, have noted that public and diplomatic pressure were the most effective advocacy tools and recommended continued efforts through embassies, public appeals, and media attention. Furthermore, approaches should be made to businesses who have or are considering investing in Bahrain to make them aware of reputational risks. See more info about the event at: https://www.gc4hr.org/news/view/2424
Impact of Covid-19 on HRDs in MENA
On 14 July 2020, GCHR co-organised an online side event on Covid-19 in the Gulf Region. Hiba Zayadin, researcher for the United Arab Emirate and Qatar at Human Rights Watch, discussed the systemic impact of Covid-19 on detained HRDs. Khalid Ibrahim of GCHR discussed the impact of COVID 19 on specific detained HRDs, migrants, and digital surveillance. Devin Kenney, GCC Researcher at Amnesty International, discussed repressive tools used to limit reporting on the effects of Covid-19. The event moderated by Michael Khambatta, representative of GCHR in Geneva.
Zayadin noted that Covid-19 is spreading in jails throughout the region. Governments have made efforts to stops the spread including the release of common law prisoners, but this has not been enough to address the problem. Furthermore, detained HRDs have not been released except for Nabeel Rajab in Bahrain, who was already eligible for release. She also highlighted the situation of migrant workers who have been exploited for decades including living in crowded conditions that make social distancing impossible.
Ibrahim echoed that migrant workers face great challenges. For example, those testing positive for Covid-19 were subject to immediate deportation or termination, and some of them are now homeless. He then highlighted the following HRDs who remain in detention across the region: Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja in Bahrain; Ahmed Mansoor, Dr. Mohammed Al-Roken, Dr. Mohammed Al-Mansoori and Dr. Nasser Bin Ghaith in UAE; and Dr. Mohammed Al-Qahtani in Saudi Arabia. Narges Mohammadi in Iran contracted Covid-19 and Nasrin Sotoudeh remains at risk. In Saudi Arabia, Loujain Al-Hathloul, Nassima Al-Sadah and Samar Badawi refused to promise to stop their human rights activities in order to be released, even after being assaulted. He also noted the increased use of “Location-Tracking” apps that will allow for greater restrictions, and he raised concerns about the new Omani Cyber Defence Centre that follows in others’ footsteps to monitor and control speech online in the region.
Kenney noted that the pandemic has been used to limit free speech, but highlighted that Covid-19 is just another in a series of pretexts that goes back decades to silence dissent. Counter-terrorism, cybercrime, and money laundering have all been used to create draconian laws that stifle free speech and human rights. No new laws are needed because the existing ones are so repressive. He noted that the UAE stood out in these practices.
Hate speech and HRDs in the MENA region
On 20 July 2020, the MENA Network for Countering Hate Speech organised an online side event entitled, “Hate speech against MENA human rights defenders and journalists must be tackled”, which called on the international mechanisms to take an immediate action in countering hate speech across the region, with a particular focus on the use of hate speech against HRDs and journalists.
The event was moderated by Khalid Ibrahim, GCHR’s Executive Director, with the participation of speakers Roula Mikhael, Executive Director of Maharat Foundation; Sharif Haj Ali, Projects Coordinator at MADA-Palestinian Center for Development & Media Freedoms; Yara Badr, Deputy Director of the Syrian Center for Media & Freedom of Expression (SCM); Sarah Elsheik Ali, Executive Director of HuMENA for Human Rights & Civic Engagement; Saloua Ghazouani Oueslati, MENA Regional Director of ARTICLE 19; Sandra van Edig, Head, Middle East at Deutsche Welle (DW) Akademie; and Ma’aly Hazzaz, Coordinator of the Multi Donor Programme on Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists at UNESCO. See more info at: https://www.gc4hr.org/news/view/2434
