The UAE designated as ‘not free’ by Freedom House

The UAE designated as ‘not free’ by Freedom House

According to Freedom House's rating system of political rights around the world, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is designated as ‘not free.’

The "Freedom in the World 2017" report gives the UAE an impressive aggregate score of 20 out of 100 (with 100 being most free).

Once again, the UAE scored 6 out of 7 marks on political rights and civil liberties (with 7 being least free).

The government of the UAE continued to suppress dissent in 2016, restricting the use of social media and utilizing an expansive antiterrorism law that criminalizes criticism of the regime. The authorities remained especially focused on activists with real or suspected ties to Islamist political groups, which—like all political parties—are banned even if they do not espouse violence, the report reads.

The document also pointed to the case of Abdulrahman Bin Subeih "who had initially been arrested in Indonesia AND was sentenced to 10 years in prison in November as part of a broader crackdown on individuals accused of links to the Muslim Brotherhood."

Along the same line, the report mentioned another Emirati citizen, academic and activist Nasser bin Ghaith, who was on trial during the year for critical online comments about the authorities and his own claims of torture, as well as alleged collaboration with Islamist political groups.

He had been detained incommunicado or in solitary confinement since his August 2015 arrest, according to the paper.

The report added: “Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, the most powerful of the seven emirates, has reportedly taken on most policymaking authority since his older brother, UAE president and Abu Dhabi emir Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, suffered a stroke in 2014.”

“Under Sheikh Mohammed’s leadership, the country has pursued an active foreign policy, deploying financial, diplomatic, and even military resources to combat perceived Islamist or pro-Iranian threats across the region. It has provided support for the anti-Islamist Egyptian government, participated in a Saudi-led coalition against Shiite-affiliated anti-government forces in Yemen, and backed an anti-Islamist factional leader in Libya,” the report concluded.

Freedom House is a clear voice for democracy and freedom around the world. Since its founding in 1941, Freedom House has been a vigorous proponent of democratic values and a steadfast opponent of dictatorships of the far left and the far right.

 

Join our campaign and sign up to get involved: media@icfuae.org.uk