69 Government Critics, Including 2 Human Rights Lawyers, Face Prison Terms
(Beirut) – The convictions of 69 defendants in the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) mass trial of 94 government critics on July 2, 2013, were based on a fundamentally unfair trial, a coalition of human rights groups said today. The convictions probably violated the right of free association of many of those accused.
United Arab Emirates state security officers have subjected detainees to systematic mistreatment, including torture, say hand-written letters from detainees smuggled out of jails, Alkarama, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said today. The groups obtained 22 statements written by some of the 94people on trial for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government.
Alkarama received a distress call from the families of 15 Egyptians who were detained two weeks ago in the United Arab Emirates. The state security forces arrested them after they were called for investigation in early June. Fifteen other Egyptians had been arrested in December 2012 and January 2013, which brings the number of Egyptians detained in the UAE to 30. Alkarama has documented the cases of fifteen of them.
After Abdulhamid Al-Hadidi, Waleed Al-Shehhi is the second human rights activist to be arrested and charged for disseminating information on the hearings of the 'UAE94' trial through social networks.
Statement delivered under Item 6 by Amman Center for Human Rights Studies in collaboration with Alkarama Foundation
We welcome the adoption of the outcome of the UPR of the United Arab Emirates, which reflected many important recommendations to address human rights concerns in the country.
In particular, we commend the UAE's accession to the UN Convention against Torture, in reflection of recommendations made during its first UPR. We therefore encourage the UAE to provide its initial periodic report as due, in August 2013.
Alkarama received an urgent call for help from the families of 15 Egyptians detained in the UAE who were arrested between early November 2012 and January 2013.
The Emirati authorities should immediately release Abdulwahed Al Shuhi or place him under the protection of the law.
On 26 March 2013 - the day of the 5th hearing of the 'UAE94' – Abdulwahed Al Shuhi, a member of the Al Islah movement, was arrested at his office Dubai by police officers. One month later, his whereabouts remain unknown.
On 8 April 2013, Abdulhamid Al Hadidi, the son of one of the 'UAE94' defendants and social activist, was sentenced to 10 months in prison by the Abu Dhabi Court of firs
Investigate Allegations of Torture, Grant Public Access to Sessions
(Beirut)– The United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities have compounded serious pre-trial violations of fair trial rights by arbitrarily denying family members, international observers, and the international media access to the mass trial of 94 critics of the government, a coalition of seven international human rights organizations said today. The organizations urged the UAE authorities to investigate allegations of torture and to grant full public access to trial sessions.
