Vincent Forest Head of Front Line's EU Office has just come back from Bahrain where he had travelled at short notice to meet the families and lawyers of human rights defenders and political activists who have been arrested in the recent clampdown.

Some including our friend and former colleague Ali Abdulemam have been denied access to their lawyers and there are serious fears about the use of torture.

It looks as though the travel ban on human rights defenders may soon be lifted due to the high level of international pressure.

You can Follow the campaign to free Ali Abdulemam on Facebook