UMAA is working alongside members of Congressional offices, leaders of DC-based human rights organizations, and NGOs, faith leaders, and community members to actively advocate for human rights in Bahrain. This section serves to regularly update you on UMAA’s advocacy work regarding Bahrain.
Current Objectives
- Release of all Bahraini political prisoners, including medical professionals, faith leaders, academics, and other pro-democratic protestors.
- Recognition of the rights of the Bahraini people to protest, have freedom of speech, and the right to peacefully assembly.
- Initiation of meaningful political reform that enfranchises the country’s majority and provides for representative government.
- Press for substantive dialogue with leaders of the opposition, especially with those currently imprisoned, not just the officially sanctioned Wefaq Society.
- Accountability for the torture and killings of protestors through an independent international commission, not just the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry.
- Halt the proposed $53 million arms sale by the US Department of Defense to the Government of Bahrain through advocating for legislation such as House Joint Resolution 80 and Senate Joint Resolution 28.
Ongoing Projects
- Organize meetings and follow-ups with Congressional leaders to advocate for human rights in Bahrain through legislation such as H.J. Res 80 and S.J. Res 28.
- Collaborate with human rights organizations and other relevant NGOs based in DC to gain Congressional support for the objectives mentioned above. UMAA is a member of an informal coalition of DC-based NGOs working on human rights in Bahrain, organized by the Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED).
- Regularly update members of UMAA on the situation in Bahrain through Weekly News Roundup emails.
- Reach out to the media through Letters to the Editor and other forms of writings to further the cause of the pro-democratic Bahrainis.
