Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy
Founded | October 2013 in NGO |
---|---|
Location |
|
Services | Protecting human rights |
Fields | Human rights, non-violence, research, advocacy |
Key people | Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei |
Website | birdbh.org |
The Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) is a non-profit human rights organisation based in London which promotes democratisation and human rights in Bahrain.[1] It was founded by Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, Alaa Shehabi and Hussain Abdullah in 2013, and is funded by the Sigrid Rausing Trust[2] for the years 2016-2019. The National Endowment for Democracy approved a grant for the year 2015.[3]
Leadership
Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei
One of the founders of BIRD, Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, received attention for his advocacy work[4] and for protesting against visits by members of the Bahraini Royal Family to the United Kingdom. As a fugitive from Bahrain, he subsequently had his Bahraini citizenship revoked in January 2015 and has applied for asylum in the United Kingdom. In 2020, he was co-winner of the Index on Censorship "campaigning" award, for "[continuing] his work as a prominent critic of the Bahraini government ... despite the danger faced by him and his family."[5]
Campaigns
BIRD has led a number of campaigns to raise awareness about what they view as the political repression of the Bahraini pro-democracy movement. These have included campaigns around the Bahrain Formula 1
BIRD has been active in campaigning for the release of Bahraini human rights activist Nabeel Rajab, who has been repeatedly imprisoned in Bahrain after criticising the Bahraini government.[8][9]
BIRD has worked closely with regional and international human rights organisations including
References
- ^ "About BIRD | Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy". birdbh.org. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
- ^ "Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy - Grantees - Welcome To The Sigrid Rausing Trust". www.sigrid-rausing-trust.org. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
- ^ "Regional: Gulf – NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR DEMOCRACY". www.ned.org. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
- ^ "Freedom of Expression Awards Fellowship". Index on Censorship. 16 April 2020. Archived from the original on 16 April 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
- )
- ^ "Event: Closing Civil Society, Religious & Political Space in Bahrain | Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy". birdbh.org. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
- ^ "Joint NGO Letter: Human Rights Situation in Bahrain". Human Rights Watch. 16 July 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2017.