Syrian activists in the UAE fear forced extradition

Syrian human rights activists in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) expressed fear of their possible extradition to Syria, where they will be at high risk of torture and other human rights violations.

This came a few days after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad made a historical visit the United Arab Emirates last week.

The official website of the People’s Assembly of Syria lists five Arab countries with whom Damascus has extradition treaties, including Yemen, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. 

However, the website of the Emirati Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists “Extradition and Judicial Cooperation” among the agreements between the UAE and Syria.

The extradition agreement, signed in 2003 in Abu Dhabi, stipulates "judicial and legal cooperation in civil, commercial, and criminal matters, and extradition".

“The UAE is not a state of law. We cannot bet on the law to protect the rights of Syrian dissidents in the UAE, if they existed or if they transited through its territories,” Mohammed bin Saqr al-Zaabi, an Emirati dissident and judicial adviser based in London, told Arabi 21.

"The UAE extradites anybody it wants without resorting to the law or the Interpol…based on the orders and instructions of the de facto authority of [Abu Dhabi Crown Prince] Mohammed bin Zayed, the architect of counterrevolution operations in the region," Zaabi said.

The Syrian National Coalition has denounced the UAE's reception of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Abu Dhabi last week, describing the visit as a "dangerous precedent" and "a departure from the decisions of the Arab League, a violation of international sanctions, and a reward for Assad for his crimes."