Human Rights Coalition Issues Statement Ahead of Nasser Bin Ghait's Verdict

The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) published today a statement urging the UAE authorities to release prisoner of conscience Nasser bin Ghait, who is due to receive his final verdict tomorrow, 29 March. The statement was signed by 10 human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and the Gulf Centre for Human Rights, between others. 

The coalition called for the immediate and unconditional release of Nasser bin Ghait, as well as other prisoners of conscience. It further called "the UAE authorities to end the criminalization of peaceful expression, including dissent, and to respect the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly."

Nasser bin Ghait, economist and academic, was forcibly disappeared in August 2015 and held in an unknown location for nine months. He faces five charges related to his rights to freedom of expression and association, including his Twitter posts which criticise the UAE and other Gulf countries. In spite of the concerning reports of his ill-health, Nasser Bin Ghait has been denied adequate medical care and is facing his last verdict tomorrow.
 

Read the full statement here: http://www.omct.org/human-rights-defenders/urgent-interventions/united-arab-emirates/2017/03/d24271/