Open letter for the United Arab Emirates calling for the release of human rights lawyer Dr. Mohamed Al-Roken

President, Sheikh Kalifa Bin Zayed

Crown Prince Court, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz,

Al Saud Street, Abu Dhabi, P.O. Box: 124, United Arab Emirates

20 October 2016

Your Excellency,

We, the undersigned lawyers, urge you to release human rights lawyer and University Professor Dr. Mohammed Al-Roken, who has been detained in the Al Rezin prison since 2012, following his conviction by the State Security Chamber of the Federal Supreme Court, whose judgments are final, without any right to appeal, to a 10-year sentence for allegedly attempting to overthrow the government. 

The Emirati authorities condemned Dr. Mohammed Al-Roken’s advocacy work in his country to protect and promote human rights and defend prisoners of conscience, especially the “UAE5” who were accused of publicly insulting the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reputation and institutions.

Dr. Mohammed Al-Roken was subject to several human rights violations by the Emirati authorities. He was forcibly disappeared, arbitrarily arrested, harassed, abused, as well as denied family visits, access to his lawyer and the right to health treatments, in addition to being deprived of his right to a fair trial.

Expressing solidarity with Dr. Mohammed Al-Roken is defending the human dignity of a lawyer and human rights advocate, his right to personal safety and freedom to exercise the profession of lawyer.

Excellency, we, the undersigned lawyers, therefore call on the UAE government to release Dr. Mohammed Al-Roken immediately and unconditionally.

Yours sincerely,

(Please see list of signatories below)

Contact:

Ms. Safwa Aissa

Director, International Center for Justice and Human Rights

Signatory attorneys:

• Institut des Droits de l’Homme des Avocats Européens – European Bar Human Rights Institute (IDHAE), based in Luxembourg
• Union Internationale des Avocats -  International Association of Lawyers (UIA), based in Paris, France
• Mr. Martin PRADEL, UIA Co-Director of Human Rights and Protection of Lawyers 
• Mr. Carlos FATAS MOSQUERA, UIA Co-Director of Human Rights and Protection of Lawyers 
• Ms. Jacqueline SCOTT, UIA Co-Director of Human Rights and Protection of Lawyers 
• Ms. Julie HALONEN, solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales, Attorney at-Law (foreigner) Geneva, Switzerland
• Mr. Richard SEDILLOT, Member of the National Bars Council, Attorney at-Law, Rouen, France
• Mr. Bertrand FAVREAU, Member of the Human Rights Committee of the European Bar Federation, Attorney at-Law, Bordeaux, France
• Mr. Grégory Thuan Dit DIEUDONNE, Former Senior Lawyer at the ECHR, Attorney at-Law, Strasbourg, France
• Mr. Thomas SCHMIDT, Secretary General of the European Association of Lawyers for Democracy and World Human Rights (ELDH), Attorney at-Law, Düsseldorf, Germany
• Ms. Julie GOFFIN, Attorney at-Law, Brussels, Belgium
• Mr. Imed ABDELLI, Attorney at-Law, Geneva, Switzerland

C.C. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi,
Crown Prince Court, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz,
Al Saud Street, Abu Dhabi, P.O. Box: 124, United Arab Emirates

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid al-Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister,
Prime Minister’s Office, P.O. Box: 212000 Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Permanent Mission of the United Arab Emirates in Geneva

56, rue de Moillebeau, 1209 Geneva, Switzerland

And Embassy of the United Arab Emirates,
Eigerstrasse 2,3007 Berne, Switzerland