This week, Amnesty International called on Bahraini authorities to release all "prisoners of conscience" ahead of the appeals of nine medical workers and human rights activist Nabeel Rajab. In light of the ongoing developments in Bahrain, here is a rundown of relevant events, activists, groups, and places that have been featured on Mosaic in recent months.

The Arab Spring swept Bahrain in March 2011 with a series of demonstrations calling for greater political freedoms and more equality for the Shia Muslim minority. The government brutally suppressed the movement, resulting in the deaths of two protestors during rallies on February 14. The protestors' funerals led to an occupation of Manama's iconic Pearl Roundabout, which was destroyed by Bahraini security forces in a deadly raid on February 17. This sparked an uprising that is still underway, with the goal of bringing down King Hamad's regime.

The disheartening lack of change in the status quo since then has been attributed to multiple factors, notably neighboring Saudi Arabia's support of the regime, but also the overwhelming international silence on the issue. Global attention has been drawn away from Bahrain to similar uprisings in the region, and a media blackout, coupled with a crackdown on social media activists by Bahraini regime forces, keeps Bahrain's troubles out of the spotlight.

Activists

Nabeel Rajab: He is the president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), and was arrested multiple times this April during protests against the Bahrain Grand Prix. Al Jazeera English has called him the "unofficial leader of the February 14 Movement." In early July, he was re-arrested shortly after posting anti-regime messages on his Twitter account, @NABEELRAJAB.

Abdulhadi Alkhawaja: He is the co-founder and former president of the BCHR. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in June 2011, and famously underwent a 110-day hunger strike that lasted until May 2012 to protest his sentence and draw international attention to Bahrain.

Zainab and Maryam Alkhawaja: The daughters of Abdulhadi Alkhawaja are prominent rights activists themselves. In May, Zainab was interviewed on Democracy Now! with Mr. Rajab following a recent arrest, and Maryam spoke at the UNHRC during Bahrain's human rights review. They tweet in both Arabic and English, as @AngryArabiya and @MARYAMALKHAWAJA respectively.

Groups

Al-Wefaq: This Shiite group is the largest political party in Bahrain, but is often outvoted by coalition Sunni parties. They, along with the February 14 Movement, have organized numerous demonstrations against the regime, despite a ban on rallies by the Interior Ministry. They are guided by their spiritual leader, Sheikh Issa Qassim.

February 14 Movement: This opposition youth group is led by anonymous social media activists. It was named after the date the popular uprising began, which was also the tenth anniversary of a charter that ended Bahrain's 1990s uprising and returned it to constitutional rule. The group has no set political or religious affiliations, but has organized marches with al-Wefaq.

Al-Khalifa Family: Bahrain's ruling family has managed to hold on to power in the midst of the unrest, with their Saudi-backed security forces repeatedly quelling the uprisings, but there is growing evidence of internal conflict.

Places

Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia: Like 70 percent of Bahrain's population of 1.3 million, Saudi Arabia's largest province consists primarily of Shia Muslims who speak Bahrani Arabic, and most of its 4.2 million people share intimate historical and cultural ties with Bahrainis. Demonstrations in this region have been similarly suppressed by the Saudi military.

Saudi Arabia: On March 2011, Bahraini authorities called on the mostly Saudi Arabian Peninsula Shield Forces to help contain the uprising in their country. This May, Saudi and Bahraini officials proposed incorporating Bahrain into Saudi Arabia to formalize their growing alliance, but the planned move was met with widespread condemnation.

United States: The US has enjoyed a close military relationship with Bahrain since the 1990s, and the US Navy has been stationed in the strategic Gulf country for several decades. This may have something to do with the superpower's silence on the unrest in Bahrain so far, much to the chagrin of rights activists.

Image: Bahraini protestors marching for prisoners of conscience, July 25, 2012: Al-Alam

For the first time since the region's popular uprising erupted, protestors in Yemen and Syria unified the slogan of this Friday's protest. Masses rallied in both countries under the banner "Victory for Our Syria and Our Yemen," and chanted in solidarity with each other's struggle.

(Sana'a, Yemen. Reuters/Ahmed Jadallah)

Dubai TV reported on the escalating violence in several Yemeni cities in what has become known as the "Massacre of Hay al-Qa'a and Kentucky." Yemeni security forces, snipers, and gunmen opened fire and used rocket-propelled grenades against protestors in the capital Sanaa. Amnesty International reported that 26 people were killed and hundreds more injured in Sunday's attack. Despite the violence, Yemen's youth vowed to achieve "revolutionary resolve" and try the remnants of Ali Abdullah Saleh's regime. 

Following the bloodiest two days Yemen has seen since March, activists uploaded graphic videos online of regime forces using excessive force to disperse protestors. The National Council for Revolutionary Forces issued a report detailing the human rights violations committed by Saleh's regime. The Council called on the international community, the UN Human Rights Council, and all “friends of Yemen” to condemn the Yemeni regime's merciless crackdown on protestors and disregard for human rights. 

Foreign Policy Magazine discussed the "Costs of Ignoring Yemen," as world powers continue to place Yemen on the "backburner" amid more pressing regional concerns. The US and Saudi Arabia's passive calls for a peaceful transition of power in Yemen were criticized, drawing attention to the fact that inattention to the Yemeni crisis has increased the risks of a real civil war in the country.

On the six month anniversary of Syria’s uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, members of the Syrian opposition met in Istanbul today to form a united Syrian National Council. The council is made up of 140 members, including dissidents who have been exiled and opponents living in Syria. Future TV reported today that the council’s objectives include maintaining the peaceful nature of the revolution, toppling Assad’s government within six months, and forming an interim government to establish a pluralistic, democratic state. 

Earlier this week, the UN Human Rights Council appointed three experts to investigate the human rights abuses against civilians in Syria, including children. According to the UN, at least 2,600 people have died in the past six months of unrest that has swept Syria. 

The opposition is mobilizing its supporters to participate in tomorrow’s protests on what is being called the “Friday of perseverance until the downfall of the regime.” Last Friday, Syrians participated in the “Friday of International Protections” with the hopes that the international community would step in to protect civilians. Russia, China, India, and Brazil continue to oppose the UN-imposed sanctions and foreign intervention in Syria. While the Obama administration and European leaders issued statements calling for President Bashar al-Assad to step down on August 18, it is unlikely that protestors will get outside help they want, at least for now, according to the Economist.

Bahrain: The Bahraini Coalition for a Republic called on citizens to participate in a silent protest in the commercial center of al-Marfaa called "encircling dignity" in order to avoid an assault by security forces. A number of political societies have also called for "the return to Martyrs' Square," formerly known as Pearl Roundabout, on September 23 and 24. In another development, al-Wefaq Society commended the Jordanian people for refusing to send Jordanian forces to oppress the Bahraini people and described the move as 'admirable.' 

Syria: Russia warned that terrorist organizations could arise in Syria if President Bashar al-Assad's government collapses. Russia has refused to join the harsh US-led sanctions against Damascus and has supported political dialogue rather than military intervention to end the violence in Syria. 

Yemen: Nine people have been killed north of the Yemeni capital Sanaa in clashes between armed tribesmen and Republican Guard units loyal to Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Politically, the Yemeni opposition rejected President Saleh's bid to authorize his deputy to sign the Gulf initiative. The Joint Meeting Parties described Saleh's bid as a "political game" and a "maneuver" to cling to power and to "buy more time."