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Arrest of Mr Mohamed in Abu Dhabi airport
On 13 January 2014, Mr Mohamed was at Abu Dhabi airport with his father-in-law, Mr Al Din, about to fly to Turkey. He was stopped at the passport control by an officer who refused to put his exit stamp and was then taken by agents from the Intelligence Services to an unknown location.
His family tried to contact him by phone but could not get any answer. They were told by the airport staff that he had already left the country but were confirmed later by the airline that he did not board on the plane for Turkey. The day after, the passport control officer told them that he was under a travel ban and that the authorities wanted him – he was therefore still in the UAE. His family could not get any additional information, despite having inquired the police.
These events were concluded by a visit of seven police officers to his house, who took Mr Mohamed along with them. They searched the house without showing any warrant and left taking Mr Mohamed with them. His family has not heard from him since.
Arrest and disappearance of Mr Al Din
Exactly one month after Mr Mohamed's arrest and disappearance, several police officers came to Mr Al Din's house. They raided the house without any warrant shown and took Mr Al Din to an unknown location. His family tried to find out more about his whereabouts by sending letters and filing complaints to different Ministers as well as the Abu Dhabi Public Prosecutor and the Egyptian Consulate. None of these steps were successful and to date, the authorities continue to deny both Mr Al Din and Mr Mohamed's detentions.
Alkarama expresses its deep concern over Mr Al Din and Mr Mohamed' fates as they are at high risk of torture while disappeared, as this is a systematic practice in cases of enforced disappearances in the UAE. Consequently, a communication has been sent to the United Nations Special procedures on their families' behalf to request the Emirati authorities to immediately release them or at least that they be put under the protection of the law.