UAE: 6 years since the arrest of Maryam al-Balushi and Amina al-Abdouli

Six years have been passed since the arrest of Maryam al-Balushi and Amina al-Abdouli in the UAE, after having been tried and charged in breach of international standards on detention and fair trials. 

Despite their 5-year sentences having come to an end both remain behind bars, held in inhumane conditions at al-Wathba Prison, Abu Dhabi. 

Reports indicate both women's mental and physical health has suffered severely during their detention, with inadequate support offered by the Emirati authorities.

On 19th February 2015, Maryam Al-Balushi was arrested in her home in Abu Dhabi accused of ‘financing terrorism’ after making donations to help a Syrian family. 

Six months later, on 19th November 2015, Amina Al-Abdouli was detained after tweeting support for the Arab Spring. 

 Following these arrests, both individuals underwent secret detentions; here they were forced into self-incriminating confessions through various forms of torture, including beatings, prolonged solitary confinement and threats of rape. 

Held incommunicado, both women were deprived of any access to the outside world, facilitating their torture and mistreatment. 

Both were eventually sentenced, following grossly unfair trials, to five years in prison, terms which have now been fulfilled.