UN Special Rapporteur: Emirati Human Rights Defender Receives Online Threats

The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders Mary Lawlor said in a tweet that Jinan al-Marzouki, the daughter of prisoner of conscience Abdul Salam Darwish received online threats.

I'm hearing disturbing reports that Woman Human Rights Defender Jinan al-Marzouki has been receiving abuse & threats online & offline in retaliation for her human rights advocacy about the UAE. I've serious concerns for her wellbeing, particularly since her UAE citizenship was revoked, she wrote in the tweet.

Jinan al-Marzouki is well known for her online activism, shedding light on political prisoners in UAE jails.

Darwish was arrested and subjected to an enforced disappearance on July 24, 2012 for signing the 2011 reform petition urging the president of the UAE to allow direct elections and grant legislative powers to parliament. 

During his time in pre-trial detention, he was subjected to torture during interrogation. He was later tried as part of the notorious “UAE 94” case and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. Darwish himself was also arbitrarily stripped of his citizenship.

The case of  Abdul Salam Darwish illustrates the UAE’s practice of arbitrary citizenship withdrawal that Emirati nationals are exposed too if they criticise the government, often leaving them stateless and without income.

The situation of prisoners of conscience in the UAE continues to raise serious concerns among international human rights groups.