Reminder:

On 29 July 2008, Alkarama wrote to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Representative for Defenders of Human Rights and the Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, asking them to intercede with the Emirati authorities.

Al-Diqqi collaborated with our organization and has forwarded us cases of human rights' violations in the United Arab Emirates.

In 2006, he created his own organisation for the defense of human rights, the Emirates People Rights Organization (PRO Emirates), known in the country through its website in which he denounced the lack of civil and political liberties, and the abuse and violations of the citizens' rights: http://www.emiratespro.com. This organisation was not recognized by the authorities.

During a visit in jail before his trial, Al-Diqqi confirmed that he had been blackmailed by the authorities since his arrest - he was asked to close his website and stop working for the defense of human rights in his country in exchange for his release.

He was sentenced to a prison sentence of 10 years because he did not agree to the conditions dictated by the authorities.

For more details about the case, see the communiqué of 30 July 2008.