28Apr, 2023
    Activists protest UAE violations in London

    A protest vigil was organised on Thursday in London rejecting the UAE’s human rights violations at home and abroad.

    The activists were calling for an end to the UK arms deals to the UAE, denouncing the Gulf country’s war crimes in Yemen.

     Banners reading “arms seller can’t peace!” and “stop arming the UAE” were raised during the event.

    In March 2015, the UAE a long with Saudi Arabia backed logistically intervened militarily in a bid to fight the Houthis and reverse what they say is growing Iranian influence in the region.

    The fighting has since killed hundreds of thousands of Yemenis, and triggered what the United Nations says is the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

    25Apr, 2023
    Seminar: UAE Human Rights Review at the UN: Calling for prisoners of conscience to be released

    On May 8th 2023, the UAE will undergo its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on Human Rights in the country at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. This is a critical moment for the international community to assess the extent of human rights violations in the UAE and to speak out for change.

    As this review takes place, there are at least 70 political prisoners being held by the UAE in breach of international human rights standards. There have been many cases of torture and mistreatment. These prisoners of conscience continue to be held for simply expressing an opinion against the government; for striving to improve Emirati society for ordinary citizens; and campaigning for democratic reforms in the country. This includes very high profile detainees such as Ahmed Mansour, Nasser bin Gaith, and many of those detained during the notorious “UAE94” mass trial.

    It is clear that since the last UPR in 2018, Human Rights violations in the UAE have not improved, and have only deteriorated with a major clampdown on freedom of expression and association.  

    The event will take place with former detainees, family members of current detainees, and human rights experts for a panel discussion to focus on these violations and the steps that should be taken to free all those unlawfully detained.

    Speakers include:

    Ahmed Alnuaimi – Charged in absentia in the UAE 94 trial to 15 years in prison, he is also the brother of detained activist Khaled al-Shaiba al-Nuaimi

    Matthew Hedges – British academic who was detained for almost 7 months in solitary confinement in the UAE and falsely accused of spying for the British Government

    Falah Sayed – Human Rights Officer at MENA Rights Group

    Jenan Al Marzooqi – Human rights activist and daughter of Emirati prisoner of conscience Abdulsalam Mohammed Darwish Al-Marzooqi

    Chair: Emma Farge – Reuters Geneva, Senior Correspondent 

    Venue: Press Club of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland 

    Date: 9th May 2023 

    Time: 03:00 PM (Geneva time)

    *To register to participate online:

    https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYldeqhqDgtEt3IDyJFgxJ1pB7eIqiIlZbB**

    **To register to participate in-person:

    https://forms.gle/Wp62VsG9y7sPnccH6

    20Apr, 2023
    Help release all political prisoners ahead of Eid al-Fitr

    As Eid al-Fitr approaches, the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is expected to order the release of hundreds of prisoners.

    Eid al-Fitr is an Islamic occasion to enhance family cohesion, and bring happiness to mothers and children. It is common for UAE rulers to pardon prisoners during significant occasions like National Day, Eid or Ramadan

    At the moment, there are countless prisoners of conscience imprisoned throughout the UAE, including 51 prisoners, including two women, held beyond their release dates.

    Eid al-Fitr is a time of festivities to spend with loved ones, however, dozens of Emirati political prisoners are denied the joys of such celebrations.

    Sanid calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, as part of the Eid al-Fitr pardon. 

    17Apr, 2023
    Case of Ahmed Mansoor reveals the true face of UAE’s Human Rights commitment

    The case of Ahmed Mansoor is a stark reminder of the ongoing human rights violations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the country’s failure to uphold its commitments to protect human rights. Mansoor, a prominent human rights defender, was arrested for his peaceful activism and has been held in solitary confinement ever since. 

    His case highlights the lengths to which the UAE will go to silence dissent and stifle the voices of those who speak out against government abuses. Despite international pressure and calls for his release, Mansoor remains behind bars, revealing the true face of the UAE’s human rights commitment.

    Background

    The situation with Ahmed Mansoor exposes the truth about the UAE’s dedication to human rights. The human rights defender has been in custody since March 20th, 2017, and has been isolated for most of that time. No one knows for sure where he’s being held, and his family has only been allowed to see him twice, both times at the prosecutor’s office.

    This isn’t Ahmed’s first time getting in trouble for expressing his opinions. Back in 2011, the Security Chamber of the Federal Supreme Court handed down a three-year prison sentence to him. The reason for his punishment was his offense of insulting leaders of the UAE and disseminating untruthful information that had the potential to damage the nation’s policies.

    Ahmed Mansoor, UAE Advocate, Given Decade-Long Sentence
    Amnesty International expressed its concern today regarding the imprisonment of a well-known human rights advocate in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The activist was accused of posting on Facebook and Twitter, which led to a harsh penalty, resulting in a significant loss of freedom of speech in the country. 

    The individual, Ahmed Mansoor, was sentenced to ten years in jail and charged a fine of 1,000,000 Emirati Dirham (about $270,000 USD) for his social media statements.

    According to Lynn Maalouf, who is the Middle East Research Director of Amnesty International,” Ahmed Mansoor is one of the few openly critical voices in the UAE, and his persecution is another nail in the coffin for human rights activism in the country.”

    The UAE’s reputation and “social harmony” are genuinely damaged by the decision to imprison Ahmed Mansoor for ten years just because he shared his thoughts on social media. It’s not Ahmed Mansoor’s peaceful activism that causes harm. 

    Instead, the real damage comes from the decision to put him in jail for expressing his opinion online. Ahmed is a prisoner of conscience who should never have been charged or sentenced for simply using Facebook and Twitter. To make things right, he must be released immediately.

    The prosecution accused Mansoor of spreading untrue information to harm the UAE’s reputation overseas and making it seem like the UAE was a place without laws. They also claimed he worked with a terrorist group outside the country. However, Mansoor was found not guilty of this last accusation.

    Mansoor received his punishment from the State Security Chamber of the Federal Appeal Court located in Abu Dhabi. If he wants to challenge his sentence, he has the option to appeal to the State Security Chamber of the Federal Supreme Court.

    His trial started in March of this year, and there was a hearing on April 11th. There may have been a third hearing on May 9th, but there has yet to be any confirmation. His sentencing occurred on May 29th, but the news about it only surfaced recently.

    The treatment of Ahmed Mansoor by the UAE government is indicative of the country’s lack of commitment to human rights. Despite the UAE’s claims of being a progressive and modern country, the arrest and detention of Mansoor reflect a different reality.

    Ahmed Mansoor is a person of integrity and honor who stands up against an unjust state. His actions in advocating for human rights and criticizing the UAE government are noble and commendable. However, the UAE government’s response to his actions reveals their unwillingness to tolerate any dissent or criticism.

    13Apr, 2023
    HRW: At Least 51 From Mass Trial Still Imprisoned Months or Years Later

    United Arab Emirates authorities are continuing to incarcerate at least 51 Emirati prisoners who completed their sentences between one month and nearly four years ago, Human Rights Watch said.

    The prisoners are all part of the grossly unfair “UAE94” mass trial of 69 critics of the government, whose convictions violated their rights to free expression, association, and assembly. UAE authorities are using baseless counterterrorism justifications for continuing to hold them past their completed sentences.

    “Prisoners in the UAE94 case have already suffered tremendously after years in prison following a grossly unfair trail,” said Joey Shea, United Arab Emirates researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Emirati authorities should free them immediately and finally put an end to this decade-long ordeal. Prominent UAE partners, including the United States and COP28 organizers, should press UAE authorities for their immediate release.”

    The prisoners were among 94 people detained beginning in March 2012 in a wave of arbitrary arrests amid an unprecedented crackdown on dissent. The case had a chilling effect on freedom of expression, assembly, and association.

    In July 2013, Abu Dhabi’s Federal Supreme Court convicted 69 of the defendants, sentencing 5 to 7 years in prison, 56 to 10 years, and 8 in absentia to 15 years, with 25 acquitted. The verdict could not be appealed, in violation of international law, because it was issued by the UAE’s highest court.

    7Apr, 2023
     UAE Conference Attendees Warned against Criticising Government

    Speakers at a recent climate and health summit in Abu Dhabi were advised by the conference organizers not to “criticize Islam, the government, corporations or individuals” or protest while in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to a recent investigation by the Financial Times.

    A chilling message given the UAE is set to host COP28, the global United Nations climate conference, at the end of this year.

    The warning to speakers is a stark reminder of the UAE government’s zero tolerance policy towards criticism. 

    Since 2011, UAE authorities have carried out a sustained assault on freedom of expression and association, arresting and prosecuting scores of independent lawyers, judges, teachers, students, and activists, including Ahmed Mansoor, a leading Emirati human rights defender. 

    The government has shut down key civil society associations and the law effectively prohibits protests. In late 2021, wide-ranging legal changes were introduced that have deepened the repression.

    4Apr, 2023
    UAE human rights record discussed during preliminary session Universal Periodic Review

    The preliminary session for the 43rd Universal Periodic Review (UPR) was held in Geneva on Monday amid UAE delegation absence.

    The session included a review of the human rights records of 12 countries, including the UAE. 

    Five rights organisations working on UAE human rights violations have participated in the session, including the Advocacy Center for Detainees in the UAE, the Mena Rights Group, the Gulf Centre for Human Rights, and the International Campaign for Freedom in the UAE.

    The Director of Emirates Detainees Advocacy Center, Hamad Al-Shamsi, addressed the audience regarding the attacks and retaliatory actions faced by human rights defenders in the UAE. He described the UAE as one of the most perilous places for human rights defenders in the Middle East. 

    Al-Shamsi emphasized that human rights defenders in the UAE are consistently exposed to arbitrary arrests, intimidation, and prolonged detention under repressive laws that do not comply with international standards. He highlighted numerous cases where human rights defenders have been convicted for their human rights activities, including Ahmed Mansoor and Abdul Rahman Al-Nahhas.

    Al-Shamsi added that the Emirati authorities systematically use citizenship revocation as a form of punishment against detainees of conscience and their families. Dozens of them and their children have had their citizenships revoked without any legal proceedings. 

    According to Al-Shamsi UAE authorities exploit the fight against terrorism as an excuse to punish detainees of conscience and to prolong their detention indefinitely without any defined period. Currently, there are 56 detainees of conscience in UAE prisons whose sentences have ended, yet they are still detained without any legal procedures.

    At the end of his speech, Al-Shamsi called on the participating country delegates in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) to pressure the UAE authorities to release all detainees of conscience and to stop all retaliatory actions against human rights defenders.

    On the other hand, a representative from the human rights group, Mena, addressed the State Security Law and fair trials, noting that there is a pattern of subjecting individuals accused of crimes against state security to a legal system with fewer procedural guarantees and more restrictions. Individuals are usually held in secret locations without the right to meet a lawyer.

    The representative of ” Mena ” for Human Rights further explained that the State Security Prosecution can detain individuals for up to 90 days, which is a clear violation of the right to a prompt trial. She recommended amending the State Security Apparatus law and respecting international legal standards for a fair trial.

    Meanwhile, another representative of the Gulf Center for Human Rights criticized the state of freedom of expression in the UAE, pointing out that Emirati laws criminalize freedom of expression. He also noted that the UAE’s National Human Rights Committee does not comply with Paris Principles, as most of its members are from the police, and some of them consider human rights defenders as traitors.

    A representative of the Gulf Center for Human Rights recommended that the UAE authorities ensure freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, amend the law of the National Human Rights Institution, and guarantee its independence.

    In turn, a representative of the International Campaign for Freedom in the UAE spoke about the continued torture in the UAE, stressing that torture is one of the most concerning crimes and it is necessary to end this practice in the UAE permanently by recommending amendments to UAE laws to ensure the prohibition of torture.

    Aymen Zaghdoudi, a representative of Access Now, also raised concerns about surveillance and violation of privacy in the UAE and recommended stopping surveillance of human rights activists and opponents and introducing monitoring mechanisms for the acquisition of surveillance technology.

    3Apr, 2023
    More than a decade of unjust imprisonment for UAE-94 group

    The recent death of Alaa al-Siddiq, killed in a car accident on 19 June 2021 in the UK, brought into sharp focus the plight of families who have been unjustly separated from their loved ones for almost a decade. 

    Alaa al-Siddiq, executive director of ALQST, a leading NGO highlighting human rights violations in Saudi Arabia, was also the daughter of “UAE-94” prisoner Mohamed al-Siddiq.

    The Emirati government stripped Alaa al-Siddiq and her nine siblings of their citizenship in March 2016, telling the UN that it had “withdrawn” their citizenship because the father’s citizenship had been “revoked”. Alaa al-Siddiq fled to Qatar in 2012 and then moved to the UK in 2019.

    Mohamed al-Siddiq was sentenced to 10 years in prison in the “UAE-94” trial. Prior to his conviction he was also stripped of his nationality in December 2011, after signing a petition calling for democratic reforms. The authorities said they revoked his nationality because he was linked to “suspect regional and international organizations and personalities”.

    Before her death, Alaa al-Siddiq had said that no one in her immediate family had been able to speak to her father, Mohamed al-Siddiq, since 2018, when the government cut off all their communication with him.

    3Apr, 2023
    Amnesty Annual Report Sheds Light on the UAE Human Rights Violations

    In its annual report, Amnesty International urged the UAE authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners who were arbitrarily arrested for their peaceful human rights activism. 

    The United Arab Emirates (UAE) put into effect new laws that significantly curtail freedom of expression and assembly, the report said. 

    According to the annual report, the authorities extended the arbitrary detention of tens of mass trial victims past the end of their prison terms, and subjected one human rights defender and one dissident to extended ill-treatment. The government renewed its stance against recognizing the rights of refugees.

    The government exercised control over expression, at times censoring content in the media or cinema deemed to be immoral. At least 26 Emirati prisoners remained behind bars because of their peaceful political criticism.

    The authorities refused to release at least 41 prisoners who completed their sentences during the year, bringing the total number, including those from previous years, to 48. All 41 were part of the “UAE-94” mass trial of 2012-2013. 

    The government characterized such detentions as ongoing “counselling” for those who have “adopted extremist thought,” a procedure authorized under Article 40 of the 2014 counter-terrorism law. The law requires the Office of Public Prosecution to obtain a court order for such detentions, but does not give the detainee the right to challenge their continued detention.