13 prisoners of conscience moved to counselling centres

Well-informed sources revealed that the UAE authorities ordered the transfer of 13 prisoners of conscience to counselling centres although they are expected to be released in few days.

The 13 prisoners are to end their prison sentences in the coming days. However, they were told that they will remain in prison after their prison sentences had ended under judicial orders, based on a law on "counselling to counter extremist ideology" that cannot be challenged.

ICFUAE statement:

The UAE authorities should immediately clarify whether the 13 men held beyond their original sentences face charges for recognisable ofences by UAE laws. If so, they should be charged and brought to trial as quickly as possible. If not, authorities should release them immediately.

International human rights law protects basic rights, including the right not to be arbitrarily deprived of liberty. 

The United Nations Human Rights Committee, in its general comment on article nine of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) stated that, “if, under the most exceptional circumstances, a present, direct and imperative threat is invoked to justify the detention of persons considered to present such a threat, the burden of proof lies on States parties to show that the individual poses such a threat and that it cannot be addressed by alternative measures, and that burden increases with the length of the detention. States parties also need to show that detention does not last longer than absolutely necessary, that the overall length of possible detention is limited and that they fully respect the guarantees provided for by article 9 in all cases.”