14 Rights Groups Call for Immediate Release of Political Prisoners

A group of prominent human rights groups sent a letter to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, urging him to release prisoners of conscience in UAE prisons.

We appeal to Your Highness as President of the United Arab Emirates to treat the issue of prisoners of conscience as a high priority and consider it an urgent humanitarian situation that requires your direct and immediate intervention, the letter reads

Y"our Highness- the absence of such policies, rooted in human rights standards, is a stain on the country’s international reputation and runs counter to the Emirati government's image of the UAE as a country that believes in the values of tolerance and openness. It is the primary responsibility of Your Highness to uphold constitutional principles by putting an end to all human rights violations."

The undersigned groups called on UAE president to assume full moral and legal obligations and to work for the respect of human rights. 

"We appeal to you not only to release all prisoners of conscience in UAE jails but also to ensure that such violations will not be repeated."