Maryam al-Balushi & Amina al-Abdouli: Two Years in Indefinite Detention

The two Emirati women activists Maryam al-Balushi and Amina al-Abdouli were supposed to be released on 19 November 2020 after serving their 5-year prison term.

They have now both served their full sentences, however they still currently remain behind bars in flagrant violation of national and international laws.

Seven years ago, Amina al-Abdouli and Maryam al-Balushi were arrested in the UAE. They have been detained ever since after having been tried and charged in breach of international standards due process and fair trial standards.

Both women endured unfair trials by being denied access to lawyers. In addition, they have been continually subjected to beatings and ill-treatment throughout their imprisonment, in addition to being denied basic needs such as sanitary towels, food and clean water, as evidenced in their testimonies.

Despite completing their prison sentences, the Emirati government has offered no signs of their release in the immediate future, despite the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention’s Opinion qualifying their detention as “Arbitrary”.

The UAE authorities are currently holding more than 46 prisoners of conscience (including Maryam and Amina) in prison beyond their release dates. This is a gross violation of international human rights law.