Mohammed Al-Maskati is a Bahraini digital security expert, founder and president of the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights and Digital Security Helpline Director at Access Now. He also serves as Digital Protection Consultant in the MENA region for Front Line Defenders and as a volunteer IT expert for the Gulf Centre for Human Rights. In June 2019, he was honoured as an Access Now Human Rights Hero at RightsCon Tunis, where he received his award from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet,  in recognition of his work providing digital security training, developing Arabic-language protection tools and manuals, and establishing a 24/7 emergency response team that has helped save the lives of human rights defenders across the Middle East and North Africa. In 2018, Mohammed Al-Maskati launched the website digital-protection.tech to provide guidance on digital protection in Arabic, addressing the severe lack of resources available to activists in the region. His work has earned him numerous accolades, including being shortlisted for the Index on Censorship’s Freedom of Expression Awards in 2019, recognised by the Security Serious Unsung Heroes Awards in 2020, and selected as an expert for the Dutch Government’s Tulip Prize for Human Rights in 2021. Mohammed Al-Maskati has also faced judicial harassment in Bahrain. In 2007, he was charged with leading an unregistered organisation, convicted in 2010 and fined 500 Bahraini dinars. He was arrested in October 2012 in connection with peaceful protests and released shortly after. In 2016, a six-month prison sentence was issued against him on appeal, though he was ultimately acquitted. Mohammed Al-Maskati continues to participate in international human rights forums, including sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council, and remains one of the most active voices defending freedom of expression, digital rights and the safety of activists in the Gulf region.