Watan-The International Amnesty Organization said that the authorities in Abu Dhabi continue to arbitrarily detain 26 prisoners of conscience, severely restricting or preventing some of the prisoners from contacting their families. They have also initiated a new mass trial involving more than 80 individuals in the case known as the “UAE 84.”
In its annual report on human rights around the world, the organization pointed out that despite Abu Dhabi’s claims of creating “safe spaces for everyone to voice their opinions” during the recent climate conference “COP 28” hosted by the UAE, it has not taken any steps to amend its repressive laws and policies.
The report clarified that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change did not publish the host country’s agreement, which is the legal framework for “COP 28,” making it impossible for activists present to know the forms of protection available for actions and comments made in the blue zone, under United Nations management, once they leave this area.
The report added that within the blue zone, civil society restrictions were unusually high, while outside the blue zone, Abu Dhabi continued to enforce its prohibitions and criminalize any opposition, creating an atmosphere of intimidation.
According to Amnesty International, UAE law imposes a mandatory prison sentence of not less than 15 years for anyone who “harms the reputation or prestige of the head of state,” and imposes a life sentence for participating in a demonstration with the intent of disturbing public security.
Arbitrary Detention
The organization’s report highlighted arbitrary detention in the UAE, stating that although 23 of the 26 prisoners of conscience detained solely for exercising their human rights had completed their prison sentences by the end of the year, the authorities continued to detain them under a law allowing indefinite detention for “rehabilitation against extremist ideology.”
The organization also stated that on June 5th of last year, officers from the State Security Apparatus arrested Mansour Al Ahmadi, one of the only two prisoners released in the “UAE 94” case in 2021.
He remained isolated from the outside world in an unknown location until appearing in court during the new mass trial “UAE 84” on December 7th last year.
The report noted that on December 7th, while COP 28 was underway, the UAE began a new mass trial involving 84 defendants, including human rights defenders and prisoners of conscience, such as Ahmed Mansoor and Mohammed Al Roken, who have been imprisoned for years on fabricated “terrorism” charges.
Torture
According to the report, for the seventh consecutive year, authorities continued to arbitrarily detain Emirati human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor indefinitely, without adequate personal hygiene tools, allowing only two or three visits per year from close family members, contradicting the absolute prohibition of torture under international law.
Abu Dhabi authorities also continued to prevent prisoners in the “UAE 94” case from communicating with their families living in exile.
Since the end of last June, Abu Dhabi authorities have suspended all calls with family members, even those residing within the country, for at least 11 of the prisoners in the “UAE 94” case.
In February of last year, Amnesty International stated that the mass trial of 84 Emiratis, including prominent human rights defenders, flagrantly violates the defendants’ rights to a fair trial, ignoring basic legal principles by retrying some defendants on the same charges they were convicted of years ago.
The organization stated that at least 65 of the named defendants had been arbitrarily detained previously, with at least 62 of them detained since their previous mass trial in 2012 and 2013 in the “UAE 94” case, where authorities accused them of “establishing a secret organization with the intent of committing violent and terrorist acts.”
In a statement on its website, Amnesty International said, “Serious multiple violations of the defendants’ rights in the trial have been committed, including what appears to be the authorities coaching witness testimony, failure to disclose key details such as specific charges and the legal provisions used to bring charges, restrictions imposed on lawyers regarding access to case-related documents, and preventing family members from attending hearings during the trial, which began on December 7th last year.”