father of a young man executed in 2017, and compelled him to sign a statement pledging not to join any demonstrations. On 5 March, police arrested Hajer Mansoor, Ali Muhana, Muneer Mushaima and Najah Yusuf – all former prisoners or family members of prisoners – for peacefully protesting next to Bahrain’s Formula 1 racetrack. They were released after several hours without charge. WOMEN’S AND GIRLS’ RIGHTS In June, in a positive step, Bahrain annulled Article 353 of its Penal Code, which had allowed rapists to escape prosecution if they married their victims. There was no change to Article 4 of the Law on Bahraini Nationality, under which only men can pass on their Bahraini nationality to their children. 1. “Bahrain: Maryam Al-Khawaja prevented from boarding flight for visit to demand father’s release”, 15 September 2. “Bahrain: Prisoner of conscience on hunger strike: Abdulhadi AlKhawaja”, 17 August BANGLADESH People’s Republic of Bangladesh The government intensified its crackdown on the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly ahead of general elections scheduled for January 2024. Authorities used the powers in the Digital Security Act and other legislation to target journalists and human rights defenders, subjecting them to arbitrary detention and torture. There was a concerning increase in enforced disappearances and lack of accountability for deaths in custody. Occupational safety remained a distant dream for many workers. Refugees endured homelessness due to a fire in a camp and a cyclone as well as food insecurity. Rations for refugees were restricted due to the UN’s acute funding shortfall. Bangladesh remained extremely vulnerable to impacts of climate change. The State of the World’s Human Rights BACKGROUND 2023 marked the 15th consecutive year that the Awami League remained the ruling political party. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION In September, the draconian Digital Security Act (DSA) was repealed and replaced with the almost identical Cyber Security Act (CSA), following tokenistic consultation.1 Authorities had weaponized the DSA to threaten and silence thousands of journalists and critics, restricting liberty and rights to privacy as well as freedom of expression. The CSA retained many of the repressive features of the DSA, including verbatim all but two of the DSA offences, albeit with some reductions to the maximum sentences, maintaining broad powers of arrest and investigation.2 JOURNALISTS Journalists faced increasing attacks and prosecutions amid a deepening crisis for press freedom and a growing culture of zero tolerance for dissent more broadly. In April, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina labelled Prothom Alo – the country’s largest daily newspaper – “an enemy of the Awami League, democracy, and the people of Bangladesh” in parliament. Hours later, a group of individuals barged into the newspaper’s office in the capital, Dhaka, issuing threats and vandalizing its logo.3 This was in reaction to an article by journalist Shamsuzzaman Shams, published by the media outlet on 26 March, Independence Day, covering the cost of living crisis in Bangladesh. On 29 March, Shamsuzzaman Shams was arbitrarily arrested and detained under the DSA for publishing “defamatory, false and fabricated information”. He was initially denied bail and jailed. Although released on bail on 3 April, if convicted he could face up to seven years’ imprisonment. In June, journalist Golam Rabbani was beaten to death by a group of men armed with machetes and steel bars. The attack came hours after a local court dismissed a case filed against Golam Rabbani under the DSA by the then Sadhurpara union council 91