The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) calls for the immediate release of prominent Bahraini human rights defender Naji Fateel, who was re-arrested on 18 August 2026, more than two years after his release under a royal pardon. We urge supporters to join calls for the Bahraini authorities to free Fateel.

At around 5:45am on 18 August 2026, plainclothes police officers raided Fateel’s flat while he and his family were asleep and arrested him. During a phone call from detention on 20 August 2026 to a colleague, Fateel said the officers did not present an arrest warrant or explain the reason for his arrest before taking him away. He described the manner of his arrest as “intimidation in every sense of the word.” He also said, “They rushed into the house, terrifying the children, terrifying my mother, first thing in the morning. He was given only enough time to put on his pyjamas before being taken outside and placed in a police bus. It was only then, that officers informed him that his arrest concerned an outstanding financial payment related to one of the cases against him.

However, Fateel was making plans regarding the outstanding payment and had spoken with officials on 16 August 2026 about documenting the amount owed so that he could seek a settlement. He explained that officials told him not to attend the police station and instead to approach the Public Prosecution and Sentence Enforcement Judge.

On 20 August 2026, Fateel was transferred from East Riffa Police Station to Jau Prison.

He also confirmed that three other former political prisoners were being held with him in relation to the same issue, including Ali Sanqoor. There have been reports of others arrested for the same issue.

Background:

Naji Fateel was detained in Jau prison on 02 May 2013. Between 2013 and 2016, he was found guilty in three separate cases and sentenced to a total of 25 years and six months in prison on charges related to his human rights work. He was released under a royal pardon on 08 April 2024 after more than 11 years in prison.

Among the cases against him was the 2015 Jau Prison case, in which he was among 57 defendants convicted in 2016 over protests in the prison. The defendants were collectively ordered to pay approximately US$1.35 million in compensation for alleged damages. The authorities calculated Fateel’s individual liability at approximately US$23,700), with a repayment arrangement requiring monthly instalments of approximately US$996. Those who can’t pay may be imprisoned.

On 16 June 2026, Fateel and a group of other individuals owing the fines wrote directly to Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, copying the Ministers of Justice and Interior and the Sentence Enforcement Judge.

Their letter raised concerns that they were being pursued for financial penalties connected to cases covered by the 2024 royal pardon. They asked the authorities to recognise the effect of the pardon on the outstanding penalties, halt enforcement measures that could result in their return to prison, clarify their legal position and ensure that individuals released under the pardon were not imprisoned simply because they could not afford these amounts.

In November 2022, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) found Fateel’s deprivation of liberty to be arbitrary due to violations of international fair-trial standards. The Working Group called on Bahrain to release Fateel immediately and unconditionally and provide him with an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations. It also called for a full and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his arbitrary detention and alleged torture.

Take Action!

Join us and call on the Bahraini authorities for the immediate and unconditional release of Naji Fateel and all former prisoners who were pardoned and subsequently arrested because they are unable to meet financial liabilities arising from the cases.

Contact:

1. Bahrain Ministry of Interior: @moi_Bahrain

2. Bahrain Ministry of Foreign Affairs: @bahdiplomatic

3. United Nations experts: @UN_SPExperts