United Arab Emirates

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United Arab Emirates
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Screenshot from Youtube video on Ahmed Mansoor, a Martin Ennals Award Laureate 2015, Youtube/Martin Ennals Foundation

Award-winning activist Ahmed Mansoor detained by Emirati security forces

Ahmed Mansoor’s arrest and detention in an unknown location is extremely alarming. The UAE authorities routinely torture human rights defenders and other activists whom they detain in secret detention facilities without access to their lawyers or families.

Journalists carried out a sit-in front of the Journalists' Syndicate on 22 November 2016 demanding the immediate release of their colleague Tayseer Al-Najjar, who was detained by the authorities of the United Arab Emirates, JO24.net

UAE sentences Jordanian journalist to three years in prison

The sentence against Tayseer al-Najjar was related to Facebook posts in which he criticized Egypt, Israel, and Gulf countries.

Link to: Two Emirati academics and activists held by authorities

Two Emirati academics and activists held by authorities

Dr. Abdulkhaleq Abdulla was arrested on 16 January by state security forces in the UAE. His whereabouts are unknown at present. Dr. Nasser Bin Ghaith is on trial and suffering from ill-treatment in prison.

Link to: Two Emirati academics and activists held by authorities

Two Emirati academics and activists held by authorities

Dr. Abdulkhaleq Abdulla was arrested on 16 January by state security forces in the UAE. His whereabouts are unknown at present. Dr. Nasser Bin Ghaith is on trial and suffering from ill-treatment in prison.

Link to: Jordanian journalist held a year in UAE for Facebook posts

Jordanian journalist held a year in UAE for Facebook posts

UAE authorities have detained a Jordanian journalist without trial or access to a lawyer for over a year. Tayseer al-Najjar was apparently detained over three Facebook posts in which he criticized Egypt, Israel, and gulf countries.

Nasser bin Ghaith speaks to Reuters at his home in Dubai November 30, 2011., REUTERS/Nikhil Monteiro

UAE holds academic incommunicado…for 9 months

Ongoing plight of Emirati academic continues, nine months after being detained over his controversial tweets.

The UAE flag flies over a boat at Dubai Marina, Dubai, United Arab Emirates on May 22, 2015. , REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

Detained without charge: Jordanian journalist passes eight-month mark in UAE prison

“If Tayseer is guilty of a known crime, he should be given a fair trial. Otherwise, he should be immediately released,” said Amman-based journalist and IPI Executive Board Member Daoud Kuttab.

UAE'S Interior Minister Sheikh Saif bin Zayed al-Nahyan attends the meeting of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Interior Ministers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, April 27, 2016, REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser

No Eye in the UAE

Popular news site Middle East Eye is latest news site blocked in that country, a trend that is leaving Emiratis with ever-decreasing alternative views on human rights and the Yemen war.

Link to: Emirati academic reappears in court after 8 months of enforced disappearance

Emirati academic reappears in court after 8 months of enforced disappearance

Nasser bin Ghaith’s next hearing is set to be held on 2 May 2016. Until then, he remains in secret detention, despite his claims of torture. Ghaith faces charges based on the broad provisions of the UAE’s Penal Code, cybercrime law, and 2015 counter-terror law; if convicted, he could receive a sentence of life in prison.

Link to: UAE yet to reveal whereabouts of academic arrested 8 months ago

UAE yet to reveal whereabouts of academic arrested 8 months ago

Dr. Nasser bin Ghaith is one of possibly hundreds of other disappeared persons in the UAE. He is also one of hundreds of political and human rights activists against whom the Emirati government has arrested and taken action against.

Link to: Civil society to Obama: Live up to your 2011 promises, support reform in the Gulf

Civil society to Obama: Live up to your 2011 promises, support reform in the Gulf

Eleven regional and international civil society groups have penned a letter to U.S. President Barack Obama urging him to press for the release of all detained rights defenders across the Gulf region who are imprisoned solely due to their peaceful and legitimate human rights work.

Link to: UAE94: An Emirati mass trial three years on

UAE94: An Emirati mass trial three years on

Ten regional and international human rights organisations call on the government of the United Arab Emirates to release immediately and unconditionally all those imprisoned solely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association, and assembly as a result of this unfair trial.

Link to: UAE academic arrested; whereabouts unknown

UAE academic arrested; whereabouts unknown

UAE security authorities have neither acknowledged nor given any reason for their detention of Nasser bin Ghaith.

Link to: Omani blogger Muawiyah Alrawahi detained for more than a month

Omani blogger Muawiyah Alrawahi detained for more than a month

Muawiyah Alrawahi, who has criticized Omani authorities on his blog and YouTube channel, has long been persecuted for his work.

Khalifa Al Nuaimi (2nd R), who, before his arrest, had kept an active blog which he used to express criticism of the human rights situation in the UAE, speaks to the media outside the federal supreme court in Abu Dhabi in 2011, REUTERS/Nikhil Monteiro

On anniversary of mass trial, rights groups call on UAE to “stop the charade”

The mass “UAE 94” trial imprisoned dozens of government critics and reform activists in the United Arab Emirates.

Link to: UAE’s anti-terrorism law triggers fears it could be used to violate citizens’ rights

UAE’s anti-terrorism law triggers fears it could be used to violate citizens’ rights

The United Nations Human Rights Council is being asked by a colation of international NGOs to ensure that the UAE’s anti-terrorism law is not used as a tool to target, imprison, intimidate and impede the work of rights defenders.