Open Letter calling on the UAE Parliament to put an end to the the collective punishment policy on families of prisoners of conscience

Dear Members of the Federal National Council (FNC),

We, the International Campaign for Freedom in the UAE (ICFUAE), are writing to bring to your attention the issue of families of prisoners of conscience held in UAE jails. 

ICFUAE has documented cases where relatives of political prisoners held in UAE jails lost citizenship and state services, as part of the UAE's collective punishment policy against opposition members.

The UAE government has revoked the citizenship of 19 relatives of two dissidents. One of those detainees is Abdul Salam Darwish who was arrested and subjected to an enforced disappearance on July 24, 2012 for signing the 2011 reform petition. During his time in pre-trial detention, he was subjected to torture during interrogation. He was later tried as part of the notorious “UAE 94” case and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. Darwish himself was also arbitrarily stripped of his citizenship. 

The case of Abdul Salam Darwish illustrates the UAE’s practice of arbitrary citizenship withdrawal that Emirati nationals are exposed to if they criticise the government, often leaving them stateless and without income. Daughter of Emirati prisoner of conscience Abdul Salam Darwish confirmed that Emirati authorities revoked the citizenship of her mother and two brothers while they were receiving medical treatment in the US.

At least 30 relatives of six of the dissidents are currently banned from travelling; and 22 relatives of three of the dissidents are barred from renewing their identity documents.

Between 2013 and 2019, the relatives of eight dissidents faced restrictions on their access to jobs and higher education. The situation of prisoners of conscience in the UAE continues to raise serious concerns among international human rights groups.

We therefore implore you, as a member of the UAE’s Federal National Council, to put pressure on the UAE government to put an end to the collective punishment policy on families of prisoners of conscience, allow them to have a dignified life and easy access for travel and basic rights as citizens of the country.

Yours sincerely,

The International Campaign for Freedom in the UAE 

ICFUAE