Ramadan 2022: A New Opportunity to Free All Prisoners of Conscience

As the holy month of Ramadan approaches, the ICFUAE urge the UAE to act in an unbiased manner to incorporate the release of all prisoners of conscience under the annual pardoning for Ramadan this month. 

Political prisoners and those who remain indefinitely detained should be the primary candidates of those deemed to be released as part of the tradition, given the unjust nature of their imprisonment. 

The holy month, which traditionally oversees the pardoning of many Emirati prisoners, should undoubtedly include the release of all prisoners of conscience. 

The time has come to free more than 200 political prisoners who remain imprisoned for non-violent political expression, often following unfair trials. 

UAE authorities have been widely condemned for restricting the rights and freedoms of various activists and non-governmental organisations under flimsy pretexts.