Reuters • 14th February 2022

Hardship deepens amidst Syria's frozen conflict

People wait to buy bread outside a bakery in Jaramana, on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, January 25, 2022. REUTERS/Yamam al Shaar

DAMASCUS/BEIRUT, Feb 13 (Reuters) - After her son was killed fighting for the Syrian government in 2013, the state began paying Amouna al-Berri a monthly salary which easily covered all her household expenses.

Today, the "martyrs salary" - given to families of people who have died for Damascus in the 11-year long war - barely pays for her diabetes medicine.

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Reuters • 14th February 2022

Lebanon's parliament speaker says he will not accept postponing the election - NBN TV

BEIRUT, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said on Thursday he will not accept the postponement of Lebanon's general election "even for a minute", NBN TV.

Berri, whose Shi'ite Amal Movement is a close ally to Iran-backed Hezbollah, added that what brings Saudi Arabia and Iran together is "much bigger" than what separates them.

Reporting by Maya Saad and Nayera Abdallah; Editing by Jon Boyle

Reuters • 14th February 2022

Lebanese museum returns artefacts from Syria's ancient city of Palmyra

BEIRUT, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Five Roman artefacts from the ancient city of Palmyra, a site damaged during Syria's decade-long conflict, were returned to Damascus on Thursday by a private Lebanese museum where they had been on display since 2018.

The limestone statues and carved funerary stones dating from the Roman second and third centuries AD were returned at the initiative of a private Lebanese collector, Syrian antiquities chief Mohamed Nazir Awad said at a handover ceremony hosted by Lebanon

Reuters • 14th February 2022

Lebanon's healthcare on brink of collapse amid crisis, says minister

Firass Abiad, director general of the Rafik Hariri University Hospital, attends an interview with Reuters in Beirut, Lebanon May 31, 2021. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

BEIRUT, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Lebanon's healthcare system is crumbling amid an economic crisis that has led to an exodus of thousands of doctors and nurses, forced private hospitals to close some departments and put further strains on the already stretched state sector.

"If this crisis goes on for long without solutions we will of course

Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain • 11th November 2021

Profile in Persecution: Sayed Mujtaba Alawi AlKhabbaz

Sayed Mujtaba Alawi AlKhabbaz, a university student in his first semester of computer engineering, was only 17 years old when he was warrantlessly arrested in Ghuraifa. Sayed has since been subjected to severe torture and ill-treatment at the hands of the Bahraini authorities who have deprived him of the chance to complete his higher education. Sayed, who had never been summoned or arrested before, remains in the Dry Dock Detention Center, awaiting the issuance of a judgement on his case.

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Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain • 21st October 2021

Profile in Persecution: Sayed Adnan MajedHashem

Sayed Adnan Majed Hashem was a 22-year-old worker at Al-Manhal water factory when he was arrested in October 2018, for the fourth time in his life, from a house in AlDair. Since his detention, Sayed Adnan has suffered physical and psychological torture, as well as religious discrimination at the hands of the Bahraini authorities. He remains at Jau Prison, where he is completing a sentence amounting to almost three decades.

Sayed Adnan was arrested for the first time in 2014 as he was returning

Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain • 7th October 2021

Profile in Persecution: Sayed Husain Saeed AlKhabbaz

Sayed Husain Saeed AlKhabbaz was a 17-year-old student when Bahraini authorities warrantlessly arrested him while he was in his car with his friends. Since his arrest, Sayed Husain has suffered ill-treatment and political discrimination at the hands of the Bahraini prison authorities. He remains in Jau Prison, completing the last years of his sentence.

On the evening of 22 July 2015, a civil patrol composed of officers in civilian clothing and officers from the Ministry of Interior (MoI), inclu

Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain • 15th July 2021

Profile in Persecution: Husain Bin Abdulla AlSadeq

Before his arrest, 46-year-old Husain Bin Abdulla AlSadeq was a prominent social activist from Saudi who was involved in religious associations, voluntary charitable committees, and the organization of religious and cultural events, activities and lectures in Qatif. Since his arrest, Husain has been transferred to several prisons and detention centers and has been subjected to severe torture and beatings, the traces of which are still visible to this day. He is currently held in Mabahith prison

Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain • 10th June 2021

Profile in Persecution: Hasan Ali Shahdad AlBalooshi

Hasan Ali Shahdad AlBalooshi was an 18-year-old student when Bahraini authorities arrested him from his house in April 2013. Since his arrest, Hasan has suffered both physically and psychologically as a result of torture, ill-treatment and attacks on his religious beliefs. He remains in Jau Prison where he is carrying out his 15 year sentence.

On 23 April 2013, officers in civilian clothing and riot police surrounded Hasan’s family house in Isa Town, broke down the main entrance door and raided

Americans for Democracy & Human Rights in Bahrain • 27th May 2021

Profile in Persecution: Ahmed Jaber Radhi

Ahmed Jaber Radhi is a 24-year-old Bahraini citizen from Jidhafs who used to work as a restaurant accountant before his arrest in August 2018. Wrongfully accused of engaging in terrorist activity despite presenting exculpatory evidence, Ahmed was convicted and sent to Jau Prison to carry out his sentence. There, he contracted COVID-19 as a result of the prison’s inability to contain the outbreak of the virus.

On 8 August 2018, at dawn, riot police and officers in civilian clothing broke into Ah