Libyan businessmen report use of torture in prison

Four Libyan businessmen who were detained by the UAE authorities in 2014 for more than 120 days have released a statement detailing the torture and brutal treatment they suffered at the hands of the Emirati authorities.

In the statement  they said:

Despite the brutal torture and oppression, the enforced disappearance in secret prisons in the UAE, and despite the consequence of health and psychological problems and considerable material losses; we remain without any resentment towards the UAE Constitution and the laws of the State, we remain silent, and we continue to appeal for the calm and diplomatic resolution of this problem and for the release of the remaining Libyan nationals who are still languishing in prison.

The Libyan businessmen were released in December 2014, but a number of individuals remain in detention in the UAE. As stated in the statement there have been no reported reasons behind the arrest or detention. At the United Nations 29th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva in June 2015, there was an appeal for the release of all political prisoners and for those perpetrators of torture to be held to account. At the UN the daughter and brother of one Libyan prisoner, Salim al Aradi told of his ill treatment, which would cause further complications to his already ailing health. There is real concern that the ill-treatment and torture could lead to serious, long term consequences for prisoners health.

Since the advent of the Arab Spring there have been regular arrests and detentions of prisoners in the UAE and reported use of torture and ill-treatment has been met with increasing concern by international organisations and NGOs.

As  well as the large number of Emirati nationals in detention in the UAE, a number of foreign nationals are also still in detention including, Egyptian, Libyan, Omani and Yemeni nationals.

The UN continues to call for the UAE to release all political prisoners and for the UAE to conform with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights