On 17 May 2012, human right defender, Ahmed Al-Tabour Al-Nuaimi was arrested in the Emirate of Ras Al-Khaimah and his current whereabouts remain unknown. Ahmed Al-Tabour Al-Nuaimi is a member and former director of the Society of Reform and Social Guidance (Islah Association), which advocates for reform and whose board of directors was dissolved by the authorities. He was one of a group of human rights activists who had signed a reform petition, directed at the UAE Head of State on 13 March 2011, which called for reforms in the legislature that include a proper election of the National Council and by allowing it to perform its role and powers in full.

Sources said that on 17 April 2012, the Ruler of Ras Al-Khaimah called human rights defender, Ahmed Al-Nuaimi, to the Emirate Palace, where it is reported that the human rights defender was asked, by the Ruler of Ras Al-Khaimah, Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al-Qasimi, to sign a document stating that he would abandon reform which he refused to do. Subsequently, he has been arrested without an arrest warrant or any official charge. He was taken to an undisclosed location and his current whereabouts remain unknown. However it is expected that he will be transferred to the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

On the same day of his arrest, at approximately 10 pm, five cars carrying two women and ten inspectors from the security services of the Ruler of Ras Al-Khaimah arrived at the home of Ahmed Al-Tabour Al-Nuaimi while his children were in the house. The members of the security services continued to search his home until 3am.

The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) sees the arrest of Ahmed Al-Tabour Al- Nuaimi as being directly related to his human rights activities. The arrest of Ahmed Al-Tabour Al-Nuaimi comes in the context of a crackdown by security forces against members of Islah and citizens calling for reform in the UAE. For further information see previous GCHR appeals dated 7 May 2012, 24 April 2012 and 12 April 2012.

GCHR expresses serious concern over the arrest of human rights defender Ahmed Al-Tabour Al-Nuaimi. GCHR strongly believes that this arrest is directly linked to his human rights activities and fears for his physical and psychological safety particularly as his whereabouts remain unknown.

 The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) urges the authorities in UAE to:

1. To immediately and unconditionally release human rights defender Ahmed Al-Tabour Al-Nuaimi as the GCHR  believes that he has been detained solely as a result of his  legitimate human rights work;
2. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity and security of Ahmed Al-Tabour Al-Nuaimi.
3. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in UAE are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment. 

 Please write immediately in English or in Arabic:

 • To express your concern about the  arrest of human rights defender Ahmed Al- Tabour Al-Nuaimi and the total silence of the authorities toward these serious violations;

• To urge the authorities in the UAE to immediately stop targeting human rights defenders;

 • To express your concern and refusal to the severe suppression of the legitimate rights such as freedom of expression, assembly, and association by the UAE authorities of its citizens, in particular the activists.

Please Send Appeals now to:

Vice-President and Prime Minister

H.H. Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum

Office of the Prime Minister

POB 2838

Dubai,

UAE

Fax: +971 4 3531974

E-mail: info@primeministre.ae

 Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior

 H.H. Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan

POB 398

Abu Dhabi

UAE

Fax: +971 2 4414938

 Minister of Foreign Affairs

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahya

POB 1 

Abu Dhabi

UAE

Fax: +971 2 4447766

Minister of Justice

His Excellency Dr. Hadef Jawa’an Al Dhaheri

POB 753

Abu Dhabi

UAE

Email: moj@uae.gov.ae

Fax: +971 2 681 5155

The Gulf Centre for Human Rights is an independent centre and has been registered in Ireland. The Centre works to strengthen support for human rights defenders and independent journalists in Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.