Silent Injustice: The Unanswered Calls for Abdulrahman Al-Nahas’s Fate in UAE Prisons
Watan-Abu Dhabi ignored the deadline set by the United Nations to respond regarding the fate of Abdulrahman Al-Nahas, the Syrian detainee in UAE prisons, raising concerns about his physical and mental health, as well as his place of detention.
According to the message, the physical and mental condition of the Syrian detainee “Al-Nahas” has deteriorate recently due to his rape in prison and the UAE authorities’ disregard for the complaints he has filed.
This led Abdulrahman Al-Nahas to attempt suicide, resulting in a deterioration of his mental state to the point where he now relies on fellow inmates for basic daily tasks.
The “UAE Detainees Advocacy Center” highlighted Al-Nahas’s case, confirming that the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, had contacted UAE authorities regarding the Syrian detainee.
Lawlor emphasized the right of every individual to enjoy the highest possible standard of physical and mental health, setting a deadline for inquiring about the situation of the Syrian human rights defender Abdulrahman Al-Nahas in UAE prisons.
تعرض للاغتصاب وحاول الانتحار في سجون أبوظبي..
انتهاء المهلة الأممية الممنوحة للإمارات للرد على استفسارات حول المعتقل السوري #عبدالرحمن_النحاسhttps://t.co/akg7Lfzpib— مركز مناصرة معتقلي الإمارات (@EDAC_Rights) January 17, 2024
The message was sent on November 17th last year, demanding that UAE authorities respond to this information within 60 days and provide any comments or additional information regarding the mentioned allegations.
What is Abdulrahman Al-Nahas’s fate?
The UN rapporteur also urged the authorities in Abu Dhabi to provide information about Al-Nahas’s physical and mental health, but the UAE has, so far, ignored responding to the message despite more than 60 days passing since its dispatch.
Lawlor mentioned at the time of sending the message that reports indicate Al-Nahas’s mental and physical condition has deteriorated since his initial detention in December 2019.
Although Al-Nahas has complained several times about his health, he has not received any medical care according to the report. The UN message expressed concern about the information received regarding the Syrian detainee, especially as reports suggest he has been subjected to rape.
The message urged the UAE government to take all necessary measures to ensure Al-Nahas’s right to sufficient access to healthcare and mental care, investigate the allegations, and take corrective actions and ensure justice if these allegations are confirmed.
It is worth noting that the UN deadline included a request for the UAE authorities to respond to the information about the deteriorating health, both physical and mental, of Abdulrahman Al-Nahas within 60 days and provide any additional information or comments on the mentioned allegations.
