🚨 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/...

[email protected] 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 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/...

🚨 Congress must reject Secretary Marco Rubio's reckless proposed reorganization of the State Department. This slash-and-burn approach to critical programs will have devastating consequences for the most marginalized people. Read our joint statement: mideastdc.org/publication/...

📢 Join us on Monday, June 16 at 10AM ET for a timely conversation on #SaudiArabia’s growing regional influence, US-Saudi relations, & the sidelining of human rights. Register here: mideastdc.org/events/from-...

Weapons sales are fueling the conflict in #Sudan & harming civilians. Congress should support the Joint Resolution of Disapproval (JRD) on weapons sales to the UAE. Read our joint letter with @amnesty.org & 40+ other NGOs: mideastdc.org/publication/...

🧵 They fled authoritarian regimes only to witness similar patterns in the US. We spoke with friends, colleagues, & partners who now see disturbing parallels to what they escaped. Here are their anonymized stories: mideastdc.org/publication/...

Ibrahim Metwally sought truth & justice in #Egypt for his forcibly disappeared son. Then Egyptian authorities arrested, tortured, & imprisoned him. After more than 7⃣ years unjustly detained, we demand Egyptian authorities release him NOW. #FreeMetwally mideastdc.org/publication/...

🚨 BREAKING: Mohammed al-Rabiah is FREE! 🕊️ Al-Rabiah spent over 7 years in prison in #SaudiArabia solely for advocating for women’s rights. We are relieved that he can finally reunite with his loved ones. #Saudi authorities should free all others unjustly detained. #FreeThemNOW

Today, Abdulrahman al-Sadhan should be surrounded by his loved ones, celebrating his 42nd birthday. Instead, he's alone in a #Saudi prison, held incommunicado, because he posted satirical tweets. Happy birthday, Sadhan. We haven't forgotten you. #FreeSadhanNOW

Today is Saudi fitness influencer Manahel al-Otaibi's 31st birthday. She's spending it locked up in #SaudiArabia, sentenced to 11 years in jail solely for supporting women's rights. Manahel shouldn't spend another birthday behind bars. It's time for #SaudiArabia to #FreeManahel.

🚨 Laila Soueif's life is on the line. British PM Keir Starmer should make clear to #Egypt's President el-Sisi that what happens to Alaa Abd el-Fattah & Laila Soueif will have long-lasting & meaningful ramifications for #Egypt-UK relations. Read our joint letter: mideastdc.org/publication/...

We condemn the verdict issued in absentia against Egyptian political dissident Hisham Kassem on sham defamation charges. The verdict is a dangerous escalation of #Egypt authorities’ ongoing campaign to silence dissent beyond borders. Our joint statement: mideastdc.org/publication/...

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Rep. Connolly. His unwavering pursuit of justice for constituent #JamalKhashoggi exemplified his abiding commitment to accountability. The world has lost a true champion of human rights who never stopped fighting for what was right. bsky.app/profile/conn...

"The billions in military aid compared to the pennies in democracy assistance really puts into perspective the priority of US governments, not just this administration who have eliminated even the pennies," MEDC’s @sethbinder.bsky.social tells Middle East Eye. www.middleeasteye.net/news/usaid-i...

After four years in prison in #SaudiArabia, Dr. Lina al-Sharif is FREE!🕊️ It's time for #Saudi authorities to free all others unjustly detained. #FreeThemNOW

🚨Egyptian opposition politician Ahmed Tantawi’s detention is set to expire on May 27. We fear authorities will extend his unjust detention. #Egypt should drop all charges against him & release all political prisoners. Read our joint statement: mideastdc.org/publication/...

Lina al-Sharif is finally FREE! 🕊️ After 4 years of cruel & unjust imprisonment solely for supporting human rights online, Dr. Lina al-Sharif has been released from prison in #SaudiArabia. Saudi authorities should free all political prisoners NOW. #FreeThemAll

As President Trump heaps praise on MBS, Nourah al-Qahtani, a mother of 5, is serving a 45 year prison sentence for an anonymous Twitter account. She has faced torture & solitary confinement. She should be with her family, not in jail. #FreeThemNow mideastdc.org/publication/...

The Trump admin sidelined human rights in favor of arms deals and diplomacy with Saudi Arabia, all while ignoring repression, detentions, and even US citizens caught in travel bans. A new @mideastdc.org brief explains the situation as Trump travels to Saudi Arabia.

While President Trump makes deals with dictators in #SaudiArabia, medical doctor Lina al-Sharif is unjustly locked up in a Saudi prison solely for peacefully calling for human rights online. #FreeThemNow #FreeLinaAlsharif

I will block any arms sale to a nation that is doing direct personal business with Trump. We should have a full Senate debate and vote. UAE's investment in Trump crypto and Qatar's gifting of a plane is nuclear grade graft. An unacceptable corruption of our foreign policy.

As President Trump cozies up to dictators again in #SaudiArabia, Manahel al-Otaibi, a 30 year old Saudi fitness trainer, is serving an 11 year prison sentence for advocating women’s rights online. She’s faced torture, enforced disappearance & medical neglect. #FreeThemNow #FreeManahel

🔎 NEW Policy Brief: "Thin Margins: Addressing Human Rights in Saudi Arabia under the Trump Administration" examines the possibilities of human rights improvements in the kingdom despite the immense challenges. Read our recommendations: mideastdc.org/publication/...

📹 WE’RE LIVE! Join our conversation on combatting disinformation and propaganda by authoritarian regimes in the MENA region. Watch here ⬇️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=93ig...

🚨 Starting at 11AM! Join us for this important conversation ⬇️ bsky.app/profile/mide...

🚨 TOMORROW: Join us for a conversation on combating disinformation & propaganda from authoritarian regimes in the MENA region. 🕚 11 AM ET 🗣️ In Arabic 🌟 With Cathrine Abusmsha, Heba Alkadri, @smex.org’s Mohamed Nagem & MEDC's @3yyash.bsky.social. Register here: mideastdc.org/events/digit...