UAE: Human Rights Groups urge the UK and the US to intervene as number of detained dissidents reaches 50

01 Aug 2012

Alkarama and other human rights groups wrote to the UK and US authorities to urge them to intervene with the UAE authorities regarding the unprecedented crackdown against Emirati activists taking place in the country. Since last December, the authorities have illegally detained 50 civil society activists and human rights lawyers. We fear that more people will be illegally arrested and detained as there has been an escalation in the crackdown against peaceful political dissidents and human rights activists in the past two weeks. Alkarama also provided information on the crackdown to the United Nations Special Procedures yesterday, following a statement by the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Alkarama, Human Rights Watch, Frontline Defenders, the Gulf Center for Human Rights and the Index on Censorship wrote to the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and UK Foreign Secretary William Hague to draw their attention to the 'campaign of arrest, arbitrary detention and deportation' launched by the UAE authorities to 'repress and intimidate peaceful political activists'. Since 16 July 2012, 36 activists including prominent human rights figures Dr. Mohammed Al-Roken and Dr. Mohammed Al-Mansoori, have been illegally arrested and detained incommunicado by the Emirati State Security forces (Amn Al Dawla). Most of them are members of the Al-Islah (Call for Reform) Association, a pacific political group calling for constitutional reform in the Emirates; other are online activists or human rights lawyers. To date, their whereabouts of the majority remain unknown as the authorities refuse to provide this information to their families. No charge has been brought against them and we fear they may face torture while being detained in secret.

The human rights organizations urged the US and the UK to 'raise these issues at the highest levels with the UAE authorities' and 'to criticize publicly the repression of free speech and free association, the harassment of members of the legal profession and to call for the immediate release of the detained activists.'

On 27 July, Alkarama sent an urgent appeal to the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression regarding the situation of these dissidents illegally detained since 16 July 2012.

For more information on the 50 Emirati activists illegally detained in the recent crackdown, please see below:

1. Saleh Al-Dhufairi, latest arrest on 29 April 2012 in the Mosque, detained in Ras Al Khaimah

2. Mohamed Albdulrazzaq Alsidiq, one of the "UAE7", latest arrest on 6 April 2012 in Sharjah, detained in Sharjah.

3. Salah Al Harmoudi, Bidoon, arrested on 14 May 2012 in Sharjah, detained in Al-Sader prison, Abu Dhabi.

4. Mohammed Rashid Al Kalbani (Omani), arrested on 12 December 2011, detained in Al-Ain.

5. Mr. Ahmed Ghaith Al Suwaidi, one of the "UAE7", arrested on 26 April 2012, detained in Al-Ain.

6. Dr. Ali Al Hammadi, one of the "UAE7", arrested on 9 April 2012, detained Al-Shahama Prison, Abu Dhabi.

7. Dr. Shaheen Alhosani, one of the "UAE7", arrested on 9 April 2012, detained in Al-Shahama Prison, Abu Dhabi.

8. Husain Al Jabiri, one of the "UAE7", arrested on 9 April 2012, detained in Al-Shahama Prison, Abu Dhabi.

9. Hassan Al Jabiri, one of the "UAE7", arrested on 9 April 2012, detained in Al-Shahama Prison, Abu Dhabi.

10. Ibrahim al Marzooqi, one of the "UAE7", arrested on 9 April 2012, detained in Al-Shahama Prison, Abu Dhabi.

11. Dr. Ahmed Al Zaabi, one of the "UAE7", arrested on 26 March 2012, detained in State Security Prison.

12. Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Kayed Al Qasimi , arrested on 20 February 2012, detained in Ras Al-Khaimah.

13. Mr. Salim Sahooh, arrested on 30 April 2012 in Sharjah, whereabouts unknown.

14. Mr. Ahmed Al Tabour Al Nuaimi, arrested on 18 May 2012, whereabouts unknown.

15. Mr Abdulrahmane Al Hadidi, arrested on 16 July 2012 at Sharjah International Airport as he tried to travel to Mecca. Director of the Center for the Memorization of the Qur'an. Whereabouts unknown.

16. Dr Mohamed Al Mansoori, arrested on 16 July 2012 in the souk of Ras Al-Khaimah. lawyer, human right defender and former head of the UAE Jurists' Association's board that was dismissed on 21 April. Whereabouts unknown.

17. Mr Khalifa Al Nuaimi, arrested on 16 July 2012 at home. His place was searched for 5 hours and all his electronic devices were confiscated. He is a student and human rights activist. Whereabouts unknown.

18. Mr Rached Omran Al Shamsi, arrested on 16 July 2012 by State Security officers. Member of Al-Islah. Whereabouts unknown.

19. Mr Khalid Al Sheiba Al Nuaimi, arrested on 16 July 2012. Whereabouts unknown.

20. Mr Omran Al Radhwan, arrested on 16 July 2012, legal advisor at the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank. Whereabouts unknown.

21. Dr Ibrahim Al Yassi, arrested on 16 July 2012. Whereabouts unknown.

22. Mr Mahmoud Al Hossani, arrested on 16 July 2012. Whereabouts unknown.

23. Mr Husain Al Najar, arrested on 16 July 2012. Whereabouts unknown.

24. Mr Khalid Al-Hammadi, arrested on 16 July 2012. Whereabouts unknown.

25. Dr Mohamed Abdullah Al Roken, arrested at 2am on 17 July 2012 by State Security officers, while on his way to look for his son Rashid and his brother-in-law Abdallah Al Hajiri who also were arrested earlier that day in Hatta (see below). Dr Al Roken is a member of the International Bar Association, and former President of the UAE Jurists Association's board before it was dissolved by the Emirati authorities in April 2011. This prominent lawyer has defended human rights activists and government critics in the country, notably the case of the "UAE 5". Whereabouts unknown.

26. Mr Rashid Mohamed Abdullah Al Roken, arrested on 17 July 2012, son of Dr Mohamed Abdullah Al Roken. Whereabouts unknown.

27. Mr Abdullah Al Hajiri, arrested on 17 July 2012, brother-in-law of Dr Mohamed Abdullah Al Roken. Whereabouts unknown.

28. Mr Essa Al Sari, arrested on 17 July 2012. Whereabouts unknown.

29. Mr Salim Hamdoon Al Shahhi, arrested on 18 July 2012. Mr Al Shahhi is Mr Al Roken and Mr Al Mansoori's lawyer. He was arrested while seeking information about the fate of his clients from State Security Prosecution. Whereabouts unknown.

30. Dr Issa Khalifa Al Suwaidi, arrested on 19 July 2012 former Director of the Abu Dhabi Educational Zone. Whereabouts unknown.

31. Mr Juma Darwish Al Felassi, arrested on 19 July 2012 at around 10pm as he was exiting his car to enter his home. His house was searched until past midnight after which he was taken to unknown destination. He had already been beaten by police officers a few months ago, and had been active in Twitter criticising the behaviour of State Security and their use of arbitrary arrests. Whereabouts unknown.

32. Mr Tariq Al Qasim, arrested on 19 July 2012. Whereabouts unknown.

33. Dr Said Al-Egleh, arrested on 24 July 2012. Whereabouts unknown.

34. Mr Hamad Roqait, arrested on 24 July 2012. Whereabouts unknown.

35. Mr. Mohammed Abdan Al-Naqbi, arrested on 24 July 2012. Whereabouts unknown.

36. Dr Adnane Julfar, arrested on 24 July 2012. Whereabouts unknown.

37. Mr Hassan Al-Qattan, arrested on 24 July 2012. Whereabouts unknown.

38. Mr Musabeh Al-Rumaithi, arrested on 24 July 2012. Whereabouts unknown.

39. Mr Abdulraheem Al Zarooni, arrested on 24 July 2012. Whereabouts unknown.

40. Mr Abdusalaam Darwish, arrested on 24 July 2012. Whereabouts unknown.

41. Mr Saeed Naser Al-Wahidi, arrested on 25 July 2012. Whereabouts unknown.

42. Ali Al Manie, arrested on 25 July 2012. Whereabouts unknown.

43. Mr. Khalid Mohammed Al-Yammahi, arrested on 30 July 2012. Whereabouts unknown.

44. Mr. Ahmed Saqer Al-Suwaidi, arrested on 30 July 2012. Whereabouts unknown.

45. Mr. Hassan Mohammed Al-Hammadi, arrested on 30 July 2012. Whereabouts unknown.

46. Mr. Saif Alatter, arrested on 30 July 2012. Whereabouts unknown.

47. Mr. Najeeb Amiri, arrested on 31 July 2012. Whereabouts unknown.

48. Mr. Bader Abdulrahman Al-Hammadi, arrested on 31 July 2012. Whereabouts unknown.

49. Mr. Fuad Mohammed Al-Hammadi, arrested on 31 July 2012. Whereabouts unknown.

50. Mr. Ahmed Saif Almatri, arrested on 31 July 2012. Whereabouts unknown.

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

United Arab Emirates

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