UN exposes reality of UAE in violating human rights
The United Nations has exposed the reality of repression in the UAE and the violation of laws through the continuous detention of prisoners of conscience and human rights defenders without legal basis.
On 17th Jul 2022, the UN expert, Marie Lawlor, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, highlighted, in a tweet on Twitter, that the prisoner of conscience in the UAE, Mohammed Al-Roken, had completed his sentence without being released.
Lawlor called on the UAE authorities to release the defender of Al-Roken immediately and allow him to travel outside the country if he so desires.
She wrote to the Permanent Mission of the UAE to the United Nations: “Human rights defender Mohammed Al-Roken has completed his ten-year prison sentence in the Emirates today. I hope he will be released and allowed to travel if he wishes.”
Al-Roken is a prominent Emirati lawyer working in the field of human rights, and a professor of international law. He has received numerous human rights awards, including the Ludovic Trariot International Prize for Human Rights for the year 2017, which is one of the most prestigious awards given to lawyers working in the fields of human rights.
Al-Roken was arrested on 17th July 2012 near his home as part of the security campaign launched by the authorities against the “UAE 94” group. However, on 2nd July 2013, the Federal Supreme Court in Abu Dhabi sentenced Al-Roken to 10 years in prison with 3 additional probation methods.
Counselling centres “Munasaha” are an administrative detention method used by the UAE authorities to detain prisoners of conscience after the end of their sentences under the pretext that they constitute a terrorist threat.
Munasaha centres have been subjected to sharp criticism from many human rights organisations as being a form of arbitrary detention, and a flagrant attack on the principle of the rule of law.
On 13th November 2020, UN Rapporteurs expressed their concern about the lack of clarity provided for in “Law 7” about the reasons for sending an individual to counselling centres, the length of time he will spend, and the available means of appeal, which raises concerns about the possibility of serious psychological harm, which may amount to torture and ill-treatment.
ICFUAE Statement:
“It is fantastic that so many UN officials are showing their concerns over the ongoing human rights violations in the UAE, including the detention of Dr. Mohammed Al-Roken and 21 other prisoners of conscience, who are currently being held in prisoners beyond their release dates and potentially being placed in a Munasaha centre.”
“It’s a real indication of the UN can take further action against the Emirati authorities and send a clear message to the newly elected president Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to immediately release prisoners of conscience and put an end to human rights abuses in the United Arab Emirates.”
