United Arab Emirates: Attacks on Freedom of Expression Continue, Al Zaidi and Bin Abbad affected

Attacks on the freedom of expression worsened in the Emirates in 2011, stated Alkarama in a communication to the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression today. The communication detailed human rights violations carried out against whistleblowers from the Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) Faisal Al Zaidi and Rachid Bin Abbad who denounced corruption within the company. The communication also described a number of other incidents in the country in which authorities have tried to restrain criticism of governmental policies.

Faisal Al Zaidi and Rachid Bin Abbad have been calling for end to corruption within ADAC since January and August 2010 respectively. As a result of this work, lost their jobs shortly afterwards. While both men appealed the decision to dismiss them, taking their cases to the Emirati labour court who found in their favor in September 2011, neither men have been reinstated to their former positions.

In addition to losing their jobs, both men were arbitrarily arrested and detained in August 2011 – Mr Al Zaidi for close to one month and Mr Bin Abbad close to one week, without contact with the outside world. During this time, they were never presented with an arrest warrant or formal reason for their detentions, but were questioned on their anti-corruption efforts which included contacting state officials and public denunciations: in frustration at the lack of response by the authorities, Mr Al Zaidi made public the information he had on corruption in a well-documented YouTube video [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xUfhYZIaPo], shortly before being arrested and detained.

Other incidents in the country including the replacement of the board of trustees of four key associations, including the national Jurists' and Teachers' Associations with people close to the reigning family of the Emirates in April and May 2011. The persecution of the 'UAE5' [http://en.alkarama.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=838:uae-expunge-activists-convictions&catid=38:communiqu&Itemid=108 ] was another such case. Most recently, a group of individuals have had their citizenship documents removed, most likely for participating in an online petition calling for democratic reforms in the country. The launch of Human Rights Watch's annual report on 25 January 2012 detailing violations in the UAE was also interrupted by officials, most likely from the Minister of Interior.