Since Saud's arrest last December, his family has contacted the Emirati State Security Prosecution office several times as well as the security services to inquire about his whereabouts but both denied his detention and declared being unaware of his arrest or disappearance.

Saud Kulaib Al Tenaiji is a member of the Al-Islah movement, a peaceful group calling for political reform in the United Arab Emirates. In the context of the recent major crackdown on political and human rights activists, there is no doubt that his disappearance is a measure of repression undertaken by the Emirati security services to further silence the movement. Mr Al Tenaiji was previously subjected to arbitrary measures from the authorities. He was forcibly relocated from the Ministry of education to the Ministry of Health. The state security services recently took such measures, including forced retirement, against other Al Islah members.

Today, Alkarama requested the urgent intervention of the UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances with the Emirati authorities to ensure that Mr Al Tenaiji is immediately released or placed under the protection of the law. We furthermore ask that the victim's family be informed of their relative's fate and whereabouts in the shortest possible delays.