Bahrain’s arrest of prominent political activist Ebrahim Sharif marks yet another chapter in the long and worsening pattern of repression sweeping across the Gulf. Sharif was detained on November 12, 2025, upon his return from Beirut, where he had spoken openly about Arab responsibility toward the Palestinian cause. His detention is neither an isolated incident nor a legal process; it is a deliberate act of silencing, targeting a figure who has spent more than a decade paying the price for peaceful expression.
Sharif’s so-called “offenses” consist of comments he made to LuaLua TV, calling on Arab governments and citizens to stand with Palestinians amid ongoing atrocities in Gaza. Instead of respecting his right to speak, Bahraini authorities accused him of “spreading false news” and using language “offensive to Arab states.” The Public Prosecution immediately ordered his detention, in predictable alignment with Bahrain’s long-standing playbook: criminalize speech, punish dissent, and make an example out of anyone who refuses to remain silent.
This is the tenth time Bahraini security forces have arrested, interrogated, or prosecuted Sharif since 2011. His history reflects the darker reality behind Bahrain’s façade of reform. He was sentenced to five years in prison for participating in the peaceful 2011 uprising, held incommunicado, tortured—including sleep deprivation, sexual abuse, and severe beatings—and repeatedly rearrested after every release simply for criticizing government policies, speaking to foreign media, or posting on social media. At every turn, the state has responded not with dialogue but with retaliation.
Sharif’s persecution is not unique. Bahrain continues to hold more than 300 political prisoners, many of whom have been incarcerated since the 2011 pro-democracy movement. Activists such as Hassan Mushaima, Abduljalil Al-Singace, Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, and Abdulwahab Husain remain behind bars. Some detainees face death sentences, including Mohamed Ramadhan and Husain Moosa, whose imprisonment was deemed arbitrary by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. Despite this, Bahrain’s allies—including the UK and EU—continue strengthening trade partnerships, ignoring the human cost associated with their silence.
Sharif’s most recent arrest is a clear warning: in today’s Bahrain, even expressing solidarity with Palestine is treated as a threat to the state. This reflects the broader political trajectory across several Gulf monarchies, where authoritarian consolidation has intensified, dissent is criminalized, and peaceful expression is increasingly treated as an act of defiance.
Together for Justice condemns the arrest of Ebrahim Sharif in the strongest terms. His case embodies a system that punishes speech, represses political pluralism, and maintains its grip through intimidation and abuse. Bahrain cannot claim stability or progress while imprisoning its own citizens for voicing conscience.
We call for the immediate and unconditional release of Ebrahim Sharif, the dropping of all charges rooted in political retaliation, and an end to the relentless campaign of intimidation that targets activists across the Gulf. International partners must stop granting political cover to authoritarian abuse and instead demand accountability, transparency, and respect for fundamental freedoms. Silencing voices like Sharif’s will not erase the truth he speaks—nor will it prevent the world from recognizing the deep crisis of rights unfolding in Bahrain and across the region.