On the eve of the new year 2016, the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) would like to take a moment to honour all detained human rights defenders in our region of the world who are deprived of their freedom solely due to their legitimate and peaceful work in the defense of civil and human rights of their fellow citizens. We hope that 2016 brings them freedom.

We remember in particular Razan Zaitouneh, Samira Al-Khalil, Nazem Hamadi, Wa’el Hamada, Khalil Ma’touq, Bassel Khartabil and Mohamed Zaza in Syria, Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace, Naji Fateel and Salah Al-Khawaja in Bahrain, Dr. Mohammed Al-Qahtani, Dr. Mohammed Al-Hamid, Mohammed Al-Bajadi, Waleed Abu Al-Khair, Fadel Al-Manasef and Raif Badawi in Saudi Arabia, Dr. Mohammed Al-Roken, Dr. Mohammed Al-Mansoori, Osama Al-Najjar and Muawiya Al-Rawahi in the United Arab Emirates, Saeed Jadad in Oman, and Dr. Abdolfattah Soltani, Narges Mohammadi and Atena Farghadani in Iran, along with all other human rights defenders who are languishing in prisons.

“As we enter a new year, we hope that peace will take hold throughout our region and that our friends and colleagues will be freed. No doubt that the GCHR will put endless efforts to support and protect them,” said Khalid Ibrahim, GCHR Co-Director.

“Entering 2016, it seems like it’s becoming more and more difficult to sustain civil society, despite the international agreement that anti-extremism and anti-terrorism should be a priority. It is important that governments understand that by supporting civil society organisations and human rights defenders they are fighting the very foundation of terrorism,” commented Maryam Al-Khawaja, GCHR Co-Director.

Once again we call on all governments in the Gulf region and neighbouring countries to release all detained human rights defenders immediately and unconditionally, and to drop all charges against them. In addition, we call upon them also to guarantee in all circumstances the ability of human rights defenders and journalists in the countries of the region to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisal and without restrictions including judicial harassment.