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(Washington, DC, June 29, 2023) – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) should release all political prisoners held in the country, including “UAE 94,” and hold government officials accountable for torture, unfair trials, and heinous detention “Conditions do not allow it,” said Democracy Now in the Arab World (DAWN) on the 10th anniversary of the sentencing of 69 of the 94 activists.
A decade after popular calls for democratic reforms in the country, the UAE remains an absolute dictatorship led by an unelected cabal of self-proclaimed “emirs.”
Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of DAWN, said: “The ‘UAE 94’ trial and sentencing are part of a massive crackdown by the UAE authorities against calls for democracy and reform during the ‘Arab Spring’ “It should be clear to all that when the United States announces its partnership with and support for the UAE, it is announcing its partnership with and support for an intolerant, repressive, authoritarian regime that abuses its own citizens.”
“Emirates 94” refers to a group of 94 people linked to al-Islah, the UAE civil society organization formally established in 1974. UAE authorities have accused the group of trying to overthrow the government because they advocated democratic reforms during the “Arab Revolution”. spring. On July 2, 2013, the Federal Supreme Court of Abu Dhabi sentenced 69 of 94 men and women to prison terms of up to 15 years for peaceful activities. arrested This was followed by a 10-year prison sentence for prominent human rights defender Ahmed Mansour.
At least 51 of 69 service completed They were sentenced to more than four years in a UAE prison, but authorities refused to release them. UAE authorities justified their continued detention by citing the country’s “anti-terrorism” law, which allows prisoners to be jailed for “counseling” (Muna Saha) after they have served their sentence. Judges can extend these consultation periods indefinitely.
Several UAE government officials were instrumental in the abusive detention and trial of “UAE 94”. They include:
- Acting Attorney General of the United Arab Emirates, Ahmed Dahani, Those suing Emirates 94 ignored their torture allegations and misled many of them into signing false confessions.
- Farah HajriThe UAE Federal Supreme Court judge who presided over the trial and convicted the “Emirati 94” has ignored allegations that they were tortured.
- Judge Mohammad Abdul QadeerAlong with Hajri, he was part of a three-judge panel that found 69 of the 94 guilty and jailed and extended the pretrial detention of members of the UAE 94.
- Captain Ali SaifEmirati prosecutors are responsible for the arrests and serious human rights violations of many members of ‘Emirates 94’.
“UAE 94” includes some of the country’s most prominent scholars and intellectuals:
- PhD.Mohammad RuqHuman rights lawyer, professor of constitutional law, former president of the UAE Jurists Association,
- Abdul Salam Darwish Marzukian educator and human rights defender,
- Prominent lawyers and human rights defenders Dr Mohammad Mansouri and Dr Salem Shehi,
- Alaa al-Siddiq, daughter of human rights defender Sheikh Mohammed al-Siddiq, also a human rights defender, has campaigned tirelessly for years for her father’s release and other Emirati activism , but died in an accident in 2021.
Abusive detention, interrogation and trials
Serious crime committed by UAE authorities Irregularities Due process during “UAE 94” pre-trial detention, at least 64 detainees were held in undisclosed locations for up to a year ahead of trial. amnesty international The investigation found that authorities denied many detainees access to lawyers before trials began, held them incommunicado, and tortured or otherwise mistreated them during interrogation.Dr Mohammad Roken detailed In multiple letters to the UAE Ruler and the Interior Ministry in May 2013 and May 2014, prison authorities allegedly subjected him and other prisoners to numerous abuses and ill-treatment.
On June 7, 2021, a source close to Abdulsalam Darwish al-Marzooqi and his family told DAWN that al-Marzooqi disclose His family has suffered torture and ill-treatment by the authorities, including denying him exposure to sunlight, exercising, adequate clothing, newspapers, books, pens and paper. According to Marzucci, authorities repeatedly deprived him of sleep, exposed him to bright fluorescent lights for hours without end, and deliberately kept the temperature of his cell at extremely low temperatures. State security agents and prison authorities also threatened to cut off his diabetes and other medication.
The trial of the 94 people by the National Security Circuit Court of the Federal Supreme Court of the United Arab Emirates also damaged for various violations. The judge dismissed allegations of torture by the detainees and sentenced 69 of them to prison for evidence that was reportedly obtained mainly through torture, deceit and coercion because the charges related to the people’s peaceful advocacy activities do not fall under international law criminal behavior. Defense lawyers have complained of insufficient time and resources to prepare for the trial, including denial of access to court documents and the prosecution’s “evidence” of the accused’s alleged “crimes.” The defendant was also denied the right to appeal when he was tried and sentenced in the UAE Supreme Court.
UAE authorities have collectively receive punishment Many family members of “UAE 94”, including their children, were revoked of citizenship and made stateless. They also denied bursaries and scholarships to some children despite their qualifications.In the case of al-Marzooqi, the UAE Government Prevent His family was unable to access his retirement savings, further destabilizing the family.
DAWN’s Sevag Kechichian said: “The overwhelming evidence of the mass detentions and trials of ‘Emirates 94’ proves beyond doubt that the UAE authorities are determined to brutally punish those who only ‘criminally ’ is someone who is demanding basic rights.” Gulf researcher. “More than a decade later, the rulers of the UAE continue to commit grotesque crimes while the world benefits from the country’s wealth and turns a blind eye.”
DAWN called on the UAE to release all prisoners of conscience, including “UAE 94”, and to end the persecution of civil society activists. The United States should demand the immediate release of prisoners who remain in custody after serving their sentences. DAWN called on the U.S. State Department to sanction the perpetrators under the Khashoggi ban and the Treasury Department to sanction them under the Magnitsky Act.
read more:
UAE: Acting Attorney General Ahmed al-Dhanhani indicts 94 peace activists
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