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this united arab emirates Preparations are underway to deport an Egyptian-American citizen detained in Dubai who called for a protest during the Cop27 climate conference in Egypt, raising concerns about the treatment of civil society at next year’s Cop28 in the UAE.
Sherif Osman, a former Egyptian military officer who had lived in the United States for decades, was detained at a restaurant in Dubai after visiting family with his fiancée.
Human rights group Amnesty International said officers “did not show a warrant or explain to him or his distraught family the reasons for his arrest, and he was taken in an unmarked vehicle.” A month later, UAE officials told His lawyers, they acted at the request of Egypt.”
On his YouTube channel, which has more than 35,000 subscribers, Othman discusses political affairs in Egypt. In early October, he began posting videos urging Egyptian citizens to protest on Nov. 11 and join other protests that day to express displeasure at Egypt’s rising cost of living and crackdown on civil rights.
Osman’s detention by the United Arab Emirates, a staunch ally and longtime financial backer of the Egyptian state, has sparked fear among the wider Egyptian exile community, including many work for human rights organizations Who plans to participate in Cop28 in Dubai.many such activists say they can’t Went to Egypt for Cop27 for fear of being arrested.
Emirati officials declined to clarify whether Osman would be extradited to Egypt or the United States, but human rights groups fear he could be at risk of torture and ill-treatment if sent to Egypt.
Authorities arrest hundreds in Egypt In the weeks leading up to November 11th to stop the protests. Most were accused of “spreading false news” or charged with terrorism. Following the arrests, civil society was closely monitored at Cop27 and protests were curtailed.
“Fears are growing that the UAE will repeat restrictions on civic space and protests. COP27,” Amnesty International said.
The UAE’s political relationship with the United States offers few protections for American citizens, especially those with dual citizenship like Osman. In 2016, father and son with dual citizenship of Libya In custody More than a year after their home was raided and subjected to extensive torture in prison, including mock executions.
Earlier this year, U.S. citizen Asim Ghafoor, who was a lawyer for slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi, was detained at Dubai airport and sentenced to three years in prison for allegedly engaging in financial crimes in the United States. Released a few months later.
President Joe Biden has Public thanks to UAE US basketball star Brittney Griner freed from detention Released from Russian exile and replaced by a notorious Russian arms dealer On the tarmac of the Emirates airport.
Egyptian officials have not publicly stated a motive for Osman’s detention. An Emirati official told the Guardian that Osman was detained on November 6 “at the request of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers”, the Arab League body that coordinates law enforcement and national security matters. The AIMC is a powerful agency established in 1980 to assist cross-border investigations. The Emirati official declined to say publicly which Arab League member requested Osman’s arrest.
Osman was brought before Dubai prosecutors on Nov. 8, who were told he had been arrested at the request of Egypt using Interpol’s red notification system, which flags suspects for international operations, the rights group said. Prosecutors referred to Osman’s YouTube channel. An Interpol spokesman told the Guardian that no such red notice had been issued against Osman.
Amnesty International said Osman was not allowed to meet his lawyer and was prevented from signing the power of attorney document by UAE authorities. Freedom Initiative, a Washington, D.C.-based human rights group, said Osman was allowed to sign the document after a month in detention, but Emirati officials rejected his lawyer’s request for his release in early December.
Saija Virta, Osman’s fiancée, told Amnesty International, “We don’t have any documents from the UAE authorities at all. We don’t have any reason for his detention. We have not been told why he was not allowed to see a lawyer.”
The UAE official said: “In each case of detention, the UAE strictly adheres to all internationally recognized standards, including regular consular visits and legal counsel. The UAE continues to work closely with the relevant authorities at AIMC to ensure the necessary preparation of extradition documents. legal document.”
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