Bahraini human rights defender Naji Fateel has been re-arrested more than two years after his release under a royal pardon, according to the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).
FIDH’s Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders said Fateel was arrested on August 18, 2026, after plain-clothes police officers raided his home in Bani Jamra. The organization said officers did not present a warrant or explain the reason for the arrest at the time, and that Fateel was later told the detention was connected to an outstanding financial payment arising from an earlier case.
According to FIDH, Fateel was transferred from East Riffa Police Station to Jau Prison on August 20, where he remains detained. The organization said at least three other former political prisoners are reportedly being held over similar financial liabilities, while further arrests have also been reported.
Why Naji Fateel Was Re-Arrested
The case dates back to a 2015 incident at Jau Prison, for which Fateel was among 57 defendants convicted in 2016. FIDH says the defendants were collectively ordered to pay about $1.35 million in compensation, with Fateel’s individual share calculated at approximately $23,700, payable through monthly instalments.
FIDH also reported that Fateel and others facing the same financial penalties wrote to Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister in June 2026, asking authorities to clarify how the 2024 royal pardon affected the outstanding penalties and to prevent former prisoners from being returned to prison solely because they could not pay.
UN Working Group Had Previously Raised Concerns
The Observatory also referred to a 2022 opinion by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concerning Fateel’s earlier imprisonment. According to FIDH, the working group had found his previous deprivation of liberty arbitrary because of violations of international fair-trial standards and called for his release, compensation and an independent investigation into allegations of torture.
FIDH has described the latest detention as a matter of serious concern and called on Bahraini authorities to release Fateel and clarify the legal effect of the 2024 pardon on financial penalties linked to pardoned convictions. These are the stated positions and requests of FIDH and its Observatory.
A Renewed Focus on Human Rights in Bahrain
The case puts renewed attention on the situation of human rights defenders in Bahrain. Front Line Defenders currently lists Naji Fateel as detained and records his re-arrest following the royal pardon as a case involving judicial harassment and arrest or detention.
The latest FIDH appeal was issued from Geneva and Paris on September 17, 2026. The organization called for guarantees for human rights defenders and urged authorities to ensure that legitimate human rights activities can take place without harassment or reprisals.
This report is based primarily on information published by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and corroborating case information from Front Line Defenders.
