On the anniversary of UAE reform petition, ICFUAE call for release of all political prisoners in Emirati jails

On the 11th anniversary of the 2011 reform petition, ICFUAE call on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to immediately and unconditionally release all those jailed and convicted for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and association.

In 2011, dozens of government critics and reform activists, including prominent human rights defenders, judges, academics, and student leaders, were arrested for signing a petition calling for elections, an independent judiciary and more legislative powers for the Federal National Council. 

 69 out of the 94 detainees were sentenced to between 7 and 15 years in prison in a widely condemned case known as the “UAE94” trial for allegedly trying to overthrow the government, a charge which they strongly denied. 

The trial failed to meet international fair trial standards and was widely condemned by human rights organisations and UN bodies, including the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.

The UAE 94 trial proved to be the centrepiece of the authorities’ broader crackdown targeting expression of dissent and advocacy of greater public participation in the governance of the UAE and other reform.