Alkarama received a distress call from the families of 15 Egyptians who were detained two weeks ago in the United Arab Emirates. The state security forces arrested them after they were called for investigation in early June. Fifteen other Egyptians had been arrested in December 2012 and January 2013, which brings the number of Egyptians detained in the UAE to 30. Alkarama has documented the cases of fifteen of them.
After Abdulhamid Al-Hadidi, Waleed Al-Shehhi is the second human rights activist to be arrested and charged for disseminating information on the hearings of the 'UAE94' trial through social networks.
Statement delivered under Item 6 by Amman Center for Human Rights Studies in collaboration with Alkarama Foundation
We welcome the adoption of the outcome of the UPR of the United Arab Emirates, which reflected many important recommendations to address human rights concerns in the country.
In particular, we commend the UAE's accession to the UN Convention against Torture, in reflection of recommendations made during its first UPR. We therefore encourage the UAE to provide its initial periodic report as due, in August 2013.
Alkarama received an urgent call for help from the families of 15 Egyptians detained in the UAE who were arrested between early November 2012 and January 2013.
The Emirati authorities should immediately release Abdulwahed Al Shuhi or place him under the protection of the law.
On 26 March 2013 - the day of the 5th hearing of the 'UAE94' – Abdulwahed Al Shuhi, a member of the Al Islah movement, was arrested at his office Dubai by police officers. One month later, his whereabouts remain unknown.
On 8 April 2013, Abdulhamid Al Hadidi, the son of one of the 'UAE94' defendants and social activist, was sentenced to 10 months in prison by the Abu Dhabi Court of firs
Investigate Allegations of Torture, Grant Public Access to Sessions
(Beirut)– The United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities have compounded serious pre-trial violations of fair trial rights by arbitrarily denying family members, international observers, and the international media access to the mass trial of 94 critics of the government, a coalition of seven international human rights organizations said today. The organizations urged the UAE authorities to investigate allegations of torture and to grant full public access to trial sessions.
The first and second hearings in the trial of the UAE94 were held on March 4th and 11th respectively, with international observers prevented access. Reports from the trial have raised alarm bells that fair trial norms are still not being respected. The UAE should allow international legal experts to monitor the trial of the UAE94 and investigate the defendants' allegations of torture and mistreatment.
On Monday 11 March 2013, the second hearing of the UAE94 trial was held at the Supreme Federal Court, in Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi - Earlier today, a delegation of 20 international observers representing various international NGOs was denied access to the trial of 94 activists which was scheduled at 10:00 this morning at the Federal Supreme Court in Abu Dhabi.
