Rare good news from UAE – 3 detainees cleared of terror charges, including blogger at risk of suicide

The United Arab Emirates Supreme Court acquitted two Libyans, Moad Mohammad Al Hashemi and Adel Rajab Naseef, and Omani blogger Muawiya Al Ruwahi of all charges in a hearing held on March 14 2016. 

Omani Blogger Muawiya Al Ruwahi who had been in detention in the UAE, was today cleared of charges by the Emirati courts, on medical grounds. The judgement ruled that upon Muawiya’s release he would be deported to back to Oman. 

He had been held by Emirati authorities since February 2015 for having posted “offensive” messages. When he was brought before courts on November 9 2015 he released a message warning of a possible hunger strike or suicide.

Muawiya had been detained for over a year and despite a number of earlier court dates, was not able to receive a conclusive hearing until March 2016. 

Muawiya al Ruwahi suffers from bipolar disorder and has attempted suicide a number of times previously. In June 2015, whilst detained at al Wathba prison, his mother called for him to be given access to medication.

The two Libyan citizens, Al Hashemi and Naseef, had been detained by the authorities as part of a wider group of Libyans detained in August 2014. Of these detainees, four had been released in 2014 and the remaining detainees where held without charge. Al Hashemi and Naseef were eventually charged with providing financial and material support to armed groups in Libya. 

In the court hearing on March 14th 2016 the two Libyans were cleared of these terror charges and further details about their release and following outcomes is due in the coming days. Four other Libyans remain in detention, including Canadian Libyan, Salim Al Aradi. 

All three detainees had reported ill-treatment and torture during their detentions and had been held at the notorious, Al Wathba prison. There remains serious concern for detainees and prisoners in the UAE who are at risk of torture and ill-treatment.