UAE : Release on bail of 6 members of the “Khor Fakan Group” arrested in dawn raids in October 2008

Alkarama for Human Rights is pleased to announce the release on bail of the following individuals for whom Alkarama had submitted a communication to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (see our original communiqué of 15 July 2009):

1. Mr. Marwan Ahmed Abdallah Al Naqbi, aged 26, employed and residing in Khor Al Sharhah Emirate.

2. Mr. Rashid Mhamad Suleiman Al Naqbi, aged 31, an official in the public sector and living in Khor Al Sharhah Emirate.

3. Mr. Badr Jumaa Mohammed Al Mansouri, 36 years, residing at Khor Al Sharhah Emirate, he is the cousin of Mr Rashid Daoud Al Mansouri (No. 4).

4. Mr. Rashid Daoud Al Mansouri, 25 years, residing in Khor Al Sharhah Emirate, he is the cousin of Mr Badr Mohammed Jumaa Al Mansouri (No. 3).

5. Mr. Abdullah Hassan Al Hamadi, aged 27, residing at Khor Al Sharhah Emirate.

These individuals were released on 19 October 2009. A sixth individual, of Afghani origin, named Abdulwahab who was arrested with the five individuals named above was also released on bail.

Their next hearing is scheduled for 11 November 2009. This release is indicative of the lack of substance of the charges put to the group, which are based on confessions made under torture. This is underlined by the fact that 13 individuals also initially arrested at the same time have already had the charges against them dropped.

The group was initially composed of 21 individuals (19 Emiratis, 1 Egyptian and 1 Afghani). They were arrested as part of a massive dawn raid operation on 1 October 2008 which involved helicopters and commando troops, and were initially detained incommunicado for several months.

In addition to Alkarama's 15 July 2009 communication, we also submitted follow up information to the Working Group on 21 August 2009 detailing the opening sessions of the court case, which started on 14 August 2009 at the Supreme Security Court of Abu Dhabi. A second hearing was held on 7 September 2009 and a third on 28 September 2009, during which allegations of torture were raised by the defendants. The latest hearing, during which the group was released, was held on 19 October 2009.

Alkarama will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide any follow up information to the relevant UN Special Procedures. It recalls that the UAE authorities should refrain from using confessions extracted under torture or ill-treatment and is obliged to launch investigation into any allegations of such acts under pertinent international human right norms.

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