On 16 March, ADHRB has delivered an oral intervention at the United Nation Human Rights Council session 46 during interactive debate under item 4.

Madam President-

We would like to bring to the council’s attention the growing trend of culture of impunity among government officials in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries.

In Saudi Arabia, the gruesome killing of former Saudi official and journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul is a vivid example of culture impunity. While for several years the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman was blamed and accused for the brutal killing. After the release of the US intelligence report it should be clear and beyond the reasonable doubt that the actual person responsible behind giving the orders of the killing is no one but Mohammad bin Salman. What made the Saudi Crown Prince engages in such crime is the believe that government officials can get away with any crimes of human rights just because they can and because they are above any accountability.

In Bahrain, the picture is not very much different. Where we have the son of the king Nasser bin Hamad Al-Khalifa engaged in consistent human rights violations where he personally tortured opposition figures, human rights defenders, and athletes. Instead of investigating the crimes he committed, the Bahraini king promoted him to a higher post in his government. This is yet another example of how culture of impunity has spread in Bahrain among highest officials in the country.

The only way this issue could be addressed comprehensively is when officials like MBS and Nasser bin Hamad face international consequences whether from this body or the security council or the new passed Magnitski Act.

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