During a side event organized by the United Nations (UN) in Bonn, Germany, during the preparatory conference for the “COP 28” climate summit, Hamad Alshamsi, the executive director of the Emirates Detainees Advocacy Centre (EDAC) revealed the serious human rights violations against dozens of political prisoners in Emirati jails.

Alshamsi stated that dozens of Detainees of conscience in the UAE are still being held despite the end of their judicial sentences.

 Alshamsi emphasized that civic space in the UAE is virtually nonexistent. People cannot speak freely or criticize the UAE government or even other governments, especially those considered friendly to the UAE government.

Alshamsi cited the case of Emirati academic Nasser bin Ghaith, who was arrested by the UAE government for criticizing the Egyptian regime and sentenced to 10 years in prison. In similar cases, Jordanian activist Ahmed Alattoum was arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison for criticizing the Jordanian government.

He pointed out that torture in the UAE has become systematic and is an integral part of the legal system. All detainees of conscience go through the same procedures, starting with solitary confinement in prisons managed by the state security apparatus (SSA).

Alshamsi explained that the State Security Apparatus Law allows authorities to detain individuals for up to 90 days without judicial authorization or presenting them to public prosecution. This period can be extended by the state security apparatus without informing the public prosecution.

During this period, which may last for months, detainees are held in state security prisons and subjected to various forms of torture, including prolonged solitary confinement. However, the UAE authorities do not consider such practices as torture.

Cases of physical assault, sleep deprivation through constant light exposure, exposure to cold temperatures, and other forms of torture during interrogations have been documented, indicating that these are not isolated incidents but rather part of a systematic practice.

Alshamsi also mentioned the UAE authorities’ use of “collective punishment” against the families of detainees. Families may face travel bans, and in extreme cases, the revocation of citizenship and the deprivation of their rights.

The ease with which UAE citizenship is revoked from detainees’ families gives the impression that it is easier than dismissing employees from their jobs. For instance, the UAE government revoked citizenship from the family of Emirati detainee Abdulsalam Almarzooqi through a phone call.

Alshamsi concluded his speech by calling for the opening of civic space in the UAE, the release of all detainees of conscience, the amendment of laws, and an end to human rights violations.