UAE: Hassan Al Hamadi released pending trial

Alkarama was today informed of the release of Hassan Al Hamadi, the 52 year old human rights defender arrested on 4 February 2011 for having voiced his support for the pro-democracy protests in Egypt. Mr Al Hamadi was released on bail on the morning of 17 February 2011, but is still pending trial.

Hassan Al Hamadi, a teacher and member of the Teachers Association in the UAE, spoke during the midday prayers on Friday 4 February 2011 at a mosque in Khor Fakkhan, Sharjah. He discussed the demonstrations against President Hosni Mubarak's regime in Egypt, and expressed support with those gathered in Tahrir square and other Egyptian cities calling for democratic change in the country.He then spoke on Aljazeera about the situation in Egypt and in the UAE.

At 19:00 that same Friday, a number of police agents from Khor Fakhan and 5 members of the State Security Forces in plain clothes knocked at the door of his home in Khor Fakhan and arrested him. They did not present any judicial arrest warrant, and we have confirmation that no judicial authority had issued such a warrant at the time. Hassan Al Hamadi was held in solitary confinement from 4 to 9 February 2011, without any access to a lawyer or to his family. He was only allowed to contact his family on 6 February with a brief phone call. He was then held in Abu Dhabi until 17 February, when he was released on bail.

Alkarama fears that Mr Al Hamadi risks being handed a heavy sentence under an article banning any actions which might harm "national unity or social peace", an accusation often used to condemn human rights activists in the UAE. Alkarama calls on the authorities to cease the persecution and the detention of individuals for simply expressing their opinions and views. We will continue to follow the situation of Mr Al Hamadi and update the United Nations human rights mechanisms.

For more information or an interview, please contact media@alkarama.org (Tel: +41 22 734 1008).