The UAE needs a truly independent ministry of justice rather than happiness

Twelve months have passed since the UAE authorities appointed a Ministry for happiness. However, the UAE has become a pervasively oppressive country and since March 2016, this has intensified significantly.

The new minister was appointed almost a year ago as part of a suspicious plan to cover up the ugly face of the repressive Gulf state.

The suffocating nature of repression continued to spread across the UAE over the past year as the authorities have pursued harsher and harsher measures to quell any form of dissent or opposition.

Despite being appointed twelve months ago, the UAE Minister of Happiness had never visited any detention center or jail in the country despite their bad reputation.

Numerous local and international rights activists have questioned more than once the effectivness of a ministry of happiness or tolerance in a country without justice or rule of law where more than 200 individuals are jailed for defending their legitimate right of freedom of expression.