Statement from ICFUAE refuting the unfounded allegations raised by Gulf News

The ICFUAE is appalled by the misfounded allegations made against us by the UAE state owned media outlet, Gulf News. We would like to make it clear that we are a strictly non-political campaigning organisation rooted in the stories of ordinary people’s struggles in the UAE. The ICFUAE is not, and has never been, affiliated to Qatar in any way. We are an independent organisation campaigning solely on issues concerning human rights in the UAE.  

This allegation is yet a further indication of the lengths the UAE authorities will go to in order to silence organisations that try to raise awareness of its poor human rights record. For example, the Geneva based human rights group Al Karama Foundation were recently denied consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) after the UAE spearheaded a draft resolution accusing it of having “connections to terrorism”. In this case, the Emirati authorities are exploiting the current diplomatic crisis with Qatar in an attempt to shut down any form of criticism levelled at the government's human rights record.

Furthermore, it is ironic that this allegation has come from a UAE state-owned publication, as the Emirati authorities have recently tightened control over press and media outlets. This has allowed the state to monopolise information within the country and shut down avenues of freedom of speech and expression which disproportionately affects dissenting voices.  

The ICFUAE was set up in sole response to the deteriorating human rights situation in the UAE. As an organisation we do not concern ourselves with the region’s geopolitical rivalries, but rather with the everyday struggles of those in the UAE that wish to have their basic human rights respected. And, we will continue to do so as long as Emirati authorities refuse to comply with international human rights law.