Jordanian Journalist, Tayseer al-Najjar, Passes Away after Years of Unjust Imprisonment in UAE

Jordanian Journalist, Tayseer al-Najjar, Passes Away after Years of Unjust Imprisonment in UAE

ICFUAE is very saddened by the news that Tayseer al-Najjar has passed away, following his release from the al-Wathba prison in Abu Dhabi just over two years ago. 

Tayseer al-Najjar was a Jordanian journalist and poet living in the UAE. In late 2015, he was arrested and held in a secret detention centre for over a year. He was sentenced in 2017 to three years in prison and a fine of 500,000 Dirhams ($136,000 USD) on charges purely relating to his online criticism of the UAE’s human rights record as well as the Israeli and Egyptian military occupation in and around the Gaza Strip. Emirati authorities further violated his right to due process by denying him a fair trial and access to a lawyer.   

Due to be released in December 2018, his detention was extended as his family could not pay the fine imposed by the court. Fortunately, his wife, Majida Hourani, succeeded to raise the funds through a donation campaign, and the authorities finally released him on 12 February 2019. 

Since his release, family sources have confirmed that Tayseer suffered severe depression. 

His unjust conviction and detention later caused a deep mental strain that remained unhealed after his release. Tayseer acknowledged his ill-health on 16 February 2021, his last Facebook post, stating,  ‘Very sick...it is unfortunate that my heart has all this pain’. 

Tayseer’s arrest and imprisonment are further examples of the UAE’s crackdown on peaceful dissent, including peaceful criticism of regional governments. 

The UAE’s security services’ treatment of prisoners destroys the lives of those unlawfully detained in the UAE, especially those of prisoners of conscience. Emirati authorities cannot continue to pretend to uphold basic human rights while causing such unjust treatment to individuals, as was evident with Tayseer al-Najjar. 

Our hearts go out to Tayseer’s family during these difficult times. 

 

ENDS

For further information or comment please contact ICFUAE at media@icfuae.org.uk or call 079 79666698

 

Join our campaign and sign up to get involved: media@icfuae.org.uk