United Arab Emirates: UAE - Prominent human rights lawyer Dr. Mohammad Al-Roken describes violations committed by authorities against UAE94 in prison

The internationally renowned human rights lawyer, Dr. Mohammed Al-Roken, talked, in a letter sent to his family, about human rights violations committed by the  authorities against him in addition to a group of 94 detained human rights defenders and activists, the so called  "UAE 94".

He identified these violations committed at the Al-Wathba prison where they are detained, in contravention to the  country's constitution and Act 43 of 1992 on penal establishments and Executive List. They are as follows:

1. Denial of adequate access to a lawyer or meetings to take place in conditions contravening the law.

2. Denial of the right to direct telephone contact with their lawyer.

3. Psychological abuse and humiliation during transfer of the detainees to court in handcuffs.

4. Denial of access to the prison library.

5. Denial of access to independently supplied food.

6. Denial of access to documents related to the case and/or delay in delivery of same.

7. Denial of communication or association with other defendants in the same category.

The GCHR is extremely concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Dr. Mohammed Al-Roken and other detained human rights defenders and activists in UAE. The GCHR calls for an immediate end to these grave violations carried out by state authorities against them.

The GCHR urges the authorities in UAE to: 

1.  Immediately and unconditionally release Dr. Mohammed Al-Roken and all human rights defenders and activists held in the UAE as a result of their peaceful and legitimate human rights activities;

2.  Guarantee the physical and psychological integrity and security of Dr. Moahmmed Al-Roken and all detained human rights defenders and activists in UAE;

3.  Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in the UAE are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment. 

The GCHR respectfully reminds you that the United Nations Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted by consensus by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998, recognises the legitimacy of the activities of human rights defenders, their right to freedom of association and to carry out their activities without fear of reprisals. We would particularly draw your attention to Article 6 (c) “Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others: (c) To study, discuss, form and hold opinions on the observance, both in law and in practice, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and, through these and other appropriate means, to draw public attention to those matters” and to Article 12.2, which provides that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration”.

Please write immediately in English or in Arabic:

1. To express your concern about the detention of the 94 human rights defenders and activists demanding their immediate release;

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

3. 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
Minister of Justice
POB 753
Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates
Email: moj@uae.gov.ae
Fax: +971 2 681 5155