Human Rights in the United Arab Emirates

Human Rights in the United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates presents a carefully cultivated global image of a modern, dynamic, forward-thinking nation amongst the turmoil of other countries in the Gulf and the Middle East. Yet, beneath the “glitz, the gloss, and the glamour”1, there is a very different reality where human rights violations are systematic and committed on a regular basis. In recent years, the country has seen a wave of arbitrary arrests, unfair trials and infringement of civic freedoms with the aim of silencing any dissenting voices. However, due to the extremely oppressive power exerted by the authorities, many cases remain undisclosed and unheard by the international community.

Although the UAE has signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the UN’s Convention Against Torture there are numerous cases of unfair arrest and inhumane prisoner treatment, particularly of government critics and pro democracy activists, that have been reported within the UAE. These cases often include:
• Unexplained and arbitrary arrests
• Enforced disappearances for months to unknown locations
• Criminalisation of basic freedom of speech
• Torture and other ill-treatment of prisoners resulting in false confessions
• Unfair trials without legal representation
• Citizenship revocation and deportations without legitimate reasons

Click here to read the full briefing 

 

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