UAE authorities continue to illegally hold Osama al-Najjar

The UAE authorities continue to arbitrary detain online activist Osama al-Najjar, after 16 days from the termination of his sentence, claiming that his release poses "a threat to national security."  

Osama al-Najjar was scheduled to be released on 17 March 2017 after serving three years in prison for posting a series of tweets criticising a mass trial of government critics and reform advocates known as UAE94 unfair trial. His father, one of the UAE94, is currently serving a sentence.

However, Osama remains kept in detention wihtout any legal basis and in flagrant violation to both international and UAE laws. According to AlKarama, he was tranferred from Al Razeen Prison to a "counselling centre", where he is being held against his will.