With MBS of #SaudiArabia coming to Washington DC, Seth Binder @mideastdc.org and William Hartung @quincyinst.bsky.social argue "Uncritically continuing to uplift MBS will only embolden the crown prince’s recklessness and repression..." responsiblestatecraft.org/us-trump-sau...
“The change in Saudi Arabia seems to be from killing journalists behind closed doors to executing them in plain sight.”
— Abdullah Alaoudh (@aalodah.bsky.social), Senior Director for Countering Authoritarianism at @mideastdc.org
🚨 BREAKING: Saudi Arabia has resentenced 75 year old US citizen Saad Almadi, handing down a travel ban that will keep him trapped in the country until March 2026.
His crime? Posting tweets critical of the Saudi government while in the US. Read more ⬇️
mideastdc.org/publication/...
We welcome the decision by #Egypt's president el-Sisi not sign the draft Criminal Procedure Code into law, which would have set the country’s criminal justice system back decades.
Read our joint statement on what's needed next: mideastdc.org/publication/...
Alaa is FREE! 🕊️
We are relieved that he is out of prison and reunited with his family. It’s time for #Egypt to free all those unjustly detained. #FreeThemAll #AlaaIsFREE
mideastdc.org/publication/...
.@jayapal.house.gov introduced an amendment during the ongoing State Dept Reauthorization markup in the House Foreign Affairs Committee that would condition $1 billion of the $3.3 billion in US military aid to Israel on human rights benchmarks. A 🧵
8⃣ years ago, reformist scholar Salman al-Odah was arrested in #SaudiArabia for supporting greater religious coexistence & criticizing the government. Today, he remains in prison in solitary confinement & faces the death penalty.
Enough is Enough. #FreeSalmanAlOdah
Israel bombed multiple countries across the Middle East in recent days. US military aid makes this possible. In our new factsheet we breakdown the $21.7B provided to Israel since Oct 7 & privileges it receives that allows it to carry on its war machine. mideastdc.org/publication/...
In a new piece by me and @stimsoncenter.bsky.social's Elias Yousif, we discuss the risks of the admin's legally dubious decision not to release detailed accounting for how the government intends to spend future foreign assistance. A 🧵 mideastdc.org/publication/...
“Grab them, tie them up & hand them to the police...drag them inside & make their lives hell,” #Egypt's foreign minister told embassy staff in a recently leaked recording.
🚨 Egypt is assaulting protestors at diplomatic missions. Read our joint statement: mideastdc.org/publication/...
If you’re traveling to or living in the U.S. with a green card, visa, or other non-citizen status, view this @mideastdc.org: mideastdc.org/publication/...
If you need free or low-cost legal immigration services, visit this directory from immigrationLawHelp:
Elias Yousif @stimsoncenter.bsky.social and Seth Binder @mideastdc.org warn of reductions in congressional reporting mideastdc.org/publication/... featured in the latest "The Week in Arms Trade Publications" mailchi.mp/forumarmstra...
Get on the list www.forumarmstrade.org/get-on-the-l...
@mideastdc.org and 80+ organizations urge members of Congress "to use all available tools, including the suspension of U.S. security assistance in compliance with section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act" to Israel in relation to Gaza. Read full letter
mideastdc.org/publication/...
Congress must uphold US law & suspend security assistance to Israel.
We joined 80+ organizations calling on the US to end support for atrocities in Gaza and secure a surge in humanitarian aid. Read our letter to Congress: mideastdc.org/publication/...
Imam Ayman Soliman sought refuge in the US after he was arrested & tortured in #Egypt for journalism. Now he's in ICE detention, at risk of deportation.
Read our commentary on how the detention of Ayman & others have shaken exiled dissidents in the US ⬇️
mideastdc.org/publication/...
BREAKING: Adel Banaemah is FREE!🕊️
Adel, a writer and university professor, spent nearly 8️⃣ years in prison in #SaudiArabia over his writings and TV interviews.
It's time for Saudi authorities to free ALL political prisoners. #FreeThemNOW
Today, 63 year old Bahraini human rights defender Dr. Abduljalil Al-Singace marks 4️⃣ years on solid food hunger strike. He has spent 14 years unjustly detained in #Bahrain solely for exercising his peaceful freedom of expression.
Bahraini authorities should #FreeAlSingace NOW!
Authoritarianism & repression won't bring prosperity or security to #Tunisia or the MENA region. "Democracy is the solution," says
@zaghdoudi.bsky.social. #DemocracyMatters
DMI Advisory Group member Nareman Shehadeh Zoabi is a Palestinian human rights lawyer at Adala handling cases related to arbitrary detention, prisoners’ rights & more. What keeps her motivated to keep advocating for human rights & democracy?
📽️ Watch more: https//www.youtube...
The democratic aspirations of the people of the MENA region matter now more than ever.
We asked MEDC's #DemocracyMatters Initiative: What does democracy mean to you?
@zaghdoudist.bsky.social @alaasayeg.bsky.social @yasminoviech.bsky.social
President Trump's strikes on #Iran are reckless, dangerous, & ill-conceived. Congress should urgently pass the recently introduced bipartisan War Powers Resolution.
Read our statement: mideastdc.org/publication/...
#SaudiArabia executed Turki al-Jasser last week, the 1st high-profile killing of a journalist since #JamalKhashoggi.
Al-Jasser had 2 Twitter accounts, including an anonymous account that "was in the crosshairs of the Saudi government,” @aalodah.bsky.social said: www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
🚨 Saudi Arabia executed a prominent journalist who exposed corruption. The world should act before other dissidents are next.
Read our commentary on the shocking execution of Turki Al-Jasser by @aalodah.bsky.social, @sethbinder.bsky.social, Sheridan Cole & Haydn Welch: mideastdc.org/publication/...
Authoritarian regimes in the MENA increasingly use cybercrime & online content laws to restrict freedom of expression. MEDC's @yasminoviech.bsky.social recently sat down with @zaghdoudist.bsky.social to discuss how we can take back the virtual space.
📹 Watch here: mideastdc.org/events/liber...
🚨 Hundreds of prisoners, including scores of Egyptian, Ethiopian & Somali nationals, are at risk of imminent execution in #SaudiArabia for non-lethal drug-related offenses, amid a surge in such executions.
Read our joint statement with 30+ organizations: mideastdc.org/publication/...
Humanitarian work supports the most vulnerable and strengthens communities. Read the joint statement on the need for human rights & humanitarian protection that “not only reflect fundamental American values but also advance global peace, security, and prosperity, consistent with international law.”
🚨 We are also alarmed by an increase in executions of foreign nationals in the kingdom. At least 26 Egyptians are at risk of imminent execution in #SaudiArabia on non-violent drug-related charges: bsky.app/profile/un-s...
While MBS continues to be rehabilitated on the world stage, Turki al-Jasser's execution is a reminder that human rights in #SaudiArabia remain dire.
More than 100 people have been executed in the kingdom this year. In 2024, 330 people were executed, according to @reprievehq.bsky.social.
We are outraged by the execution of Turki al-Jasser, a courageous Saudi journalist & writer who exposed royal corruption online. Our hearts are with his loved ones.
Nearly 7 years since MBS ordered the murder of #JamalKhashoggi with impunity, MBS has only been emboldened.
apnews.com/article/saud...
We asked friends & colleagues who fled repressive authoritarian regimes about what they're now seeing in the US.
One researcher finds themselves returning to the same self-censorship tactics they used in their home country. #DemocracyMatters
Read more: mideastdc.org/publication/...
