Watan-The Gulf Center for Human Rights has warned of the new trial by the UAE authorities against prisoners of opinion whose sentences have ended. They are being retried on the same charges, paving the way for the issuance of death sentences and life imprisonment.
The center stated in a tweet on its IX platform account: ’84 people are being tried in a new case that could result in life imprisonment or the death penalty (not 87 as previously mentioned).’
The Gulf Center for Human Rights expressed hope in continuing efforts to take action to help release human rights defenders in the UAE, including prominent opinion prisoner Ahmed Mansoor.
#UAE Urgent Action Update: 84 people are on trial in new case that could lead to life imprisonment or death penalty (not 87 as previously reported.) Please continue to take action to help free human rights defenders including @Ahmed_Mansoor #FreeAhmed https://t.co/zz3vw9B7Yb https://t.co/kTpZqg8jA1
— GC4HR (@GulfCentre4HR) January 9, 2024
On January 6th, the Public Prosecution in the United Arab Emirates announced the retrial of 84 citizens, justifying it by alleging that they “concealed evidence before their conviction in 2013.”
Abu Dhabi acknowledges the retrial of the accused in the “UAE 94” case. The UAE news agency “WAM” stated that Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, the State Attorney General, ordered the referral of 84 accused, mostly members of the Muslim Brotherhood in the UAE, to the Abu Dhabi Federal Appeals Court (State Security Court) to be tried for establishing another secret organization with the purpose of committing violent and terrorist acts on the state’s territory.
The official agency’s report claimed that the accused had concealed this crime and its evidence before their arrest and trial in case number (17) of 2013 related to state security. This refers to the “UAE 94” case, in which 69 accused were convicted in 2013 of the same charges.
According to the report, based on sufficient information and investigations, the Attorney General ordered an investigation into the facts of this crime. After about six months of research, investigation, and revealing the details of the crime and sufficient evidence of its commission, the Attorney General decided to refer the accused to a public trial at the State Security Court, which is still ongoing.
During the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), described as the “most comprehensive conference ever,” held in the UAE in December last year, 84 Emirati human rights defenders were brought to a collective trial. It was merely a symbolic trial as they were not allowed to properly defend themselves against false terrorism charges.
This is not the first collective trial for these human rights defenders. Some time ago, in March 2013, 94 Emiratis were unjustly sentenced to prison in a collective trial now known as the “UAE 94” case. Everyone was falsely accused of terrorism for signing a petition calling for increased political participation and constitutional reforms in the UAE.