Jordanian authorities have extradited Emirati citizen Khalaf bin Abdul Rahman al-Romaithi, 58, to the United Arab Emirates, where he is at serious risk of arbitrary detention, an unfair trial, and possibly torture.

Al-Romaithi, was detained at Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport. He was released on bail later that day but detained again a day later at a coffee shop by security men in civilian clothes. The security forces claimed that he was arrested on suspicion of trying to flee the kingdom after he changed his residence and phone number.

In July 2013, the UAE’s Federal Supreme Court sentenced al-Romaithi in absentia to 15 years in prison following the grossly unfair and infamous “UAE94” mass trial

His lawyer, Assem Al-Omari, stated that the Jordanian authorities had not officially informed him of al-Romaithi’s extradition to Abu Dhabi.

Sources familiar with the matter affirmed that the UAE government has continued to pursue al-Romaithi over the past ten years, freezing his money and preventing him from meeting with his children, who are subjected to a travel ban.

Thus, SANID Campaign stresses that Article 21 of Jordan’s constitution prohibits extradition of “political refugees” based on “their political beliefs or for their defence of liberty.”

SANID also calls on the UAE authorities to:

• Disclose the fate of Khalaf bin Abdul Rahman al-Romaithi and release him along with all those detained simply for exercising their right to free speech.

• End all attacks and harassment against prisoners of conscience and their families.

• Amend all laws that violate human rights, including the Anti-Terrorism Law, the Penal Code, and the Cybercrime Law, in line with international human rights standards.

• Close all Munasaha centres.