ICFUAE Mourn Alaa al-Siddiq

A leading Emirati human rights defender died in a tragic car crash in London late on Saturday, 19 June.

Alaa al-Siddiq, daughter of political prisoner Mohammad al-Siddiq, was a prominent voice in challenging human rights violations in the MENA region. Campaigning for her father's release from UAE custody, she dedicated her career to defending the rights of prisoners of conscience in the UAE and the wider Gulf region. 

Arbitrarily stripped of her nationality in reprisal against her and her father's human rights work, Alaa took asylum in Qatar in 2012 to settle then in London in 2018 after Abu Dhabi asked Doha to extradite her to the UAE.

Dozens of human rights groups and prominent activists expressed their shock over her tragic and sudden death and mourned Alaa as a brave dissident and critic. 

ICFUAE are deeply saddened by her sudden passing. Alaa was an amazing person and a valued colleague. We will miss her intelligence, generosity and gentleness. May she rest in peace.