Articles for United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates: Alkarama Briefs UN Delegates on Deteriorating Human Rights Situation

Alkarama was able to express its concerns on the current human rights situation in the United Arab Emirates earlier today, during the pre-session briefing organized by UPR-Info.

30 Nov 2012

UAE: Enforced Disappearance and Torture

Reveal Activist's Whereabouts; Investigate Torture Allegations

United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities should immediately bring a victim of enforced disappearance, Ahmed al-Suweidi, before judicial authorities and open a thorough and impartial investigation into credible allegations of torture at State Security facilities. Human Rights Watch was joined in its statement by Alkarama (Dignity), the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR), and Index on Censorship.

14 Sep 2012

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

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.

01 Aug 2012

UAE: Joint Open Letter to UK Foreign Secretary William Hague

On 1 August 2012, Alkarama and other Human Rights Groups wrote to UK Foreign Secretary William Hague to urge him to intervene with the UAE authorities regarding the recent unprecedented crackdown against activists .

Dear Foreign Secretary,

We are writing to draw your attention to some disturbing human rights developments in the United Arab Emirates, where the authorities have launched a campaign of arrest, arbitrary detention and deportation to repress and intimidate peaceful political activists.

01 Aug 2012

UAE: Joint open letter to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

On 31 July 2012, Alkarama and other Human Rights Groups wrote to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to urge her to intervene with the UAE authorities regarding the recent unprecedented crackdown against activists.

Dear Secretary Clinton,

31 Jul 2012

UAE: Young Syrian detainee on hunger strike following unfair trial and torture

Two days ago, 26 year-old Syrian detainee, Musab Al Abood, was transferred to an Abu Dhabi hospital as a result of the hunger strike he initiated to protest against his detention. His case has almost gone unnoticed amongst the recent unprecedented crackdown against human rights and political activists in the country and the sentence following an unfair trial of former judge, Ahmed Al Zaabi.

24 Jul 2012

UAE: At least 15 activists detained in aggressive crackdown

Over the past few days, the United Arab Emirates have increased their efforts to silence human rights and political activists who have exercised their legitimate right to freedom of expression by arresting them on national security grounds. At least 15 activists have been arrested by the Emirati security services in the last 72 hours in Ras Al-Khaimah, Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi following the forced deportation of Bidoon human rights defender Ahmed Abdulkhaleq to Thailand on 16 July, which was identified as a 'very disturbing case' by the UN.

18 Jul 2012

United Arab Emirates: Alkarama Concerns Highlighted in Second UPR Report Amid Crackdown

Alkarama today provided its submission to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United Arab Emirates to the UN for inclusion in the preparation of the summary of NGO information. The report highlighted key concerns, including the crackdown on essential freedoms of expression and association, the use of arbitrary arrests, detention and torture by the authorities to silence dissent, and the plight of the Bidoon in the country.

16 Jul 2012

United Arab Emirates: Risk of expulsion of well-known government critic Ahmed Abdul Khaleq

Alkarama was informed that Mr Abdul Khaleq, one of the UAE5, a group of five well known government critics and human rights defenders who were subjected to and unfair trial in the United Arab Emirates last year, was re-arrested on 22 May 2012.

28 May 2012

Emirates (UAE): Arrest of Sultan bin Kayed al-Qasimi, president of the "Call for Reform" (Islah) association.

Alkarama today submitted an urgent appeal to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, and the UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, informing them of the arbitrary arrest of Mr Sultan bin Kayed al-Qasimi.

UAE security forces arrested Mr al-Qasimi, the president of the Islah association, on Friday 20 April 2012, without showing an arrest warrant or informing him of any charges against him. He was transferred to the ruler's house in Ras al-Khaimah, and was held in isolation from the outside world.

26 Apr 2012