United Arab Emirates - Latest Publications

UAE - News

UAE: Known Emirati Blogger Arbitrarily Detained Since March 2014

UAE - News | 18 September 2015

On 15 September 2015, Alkarama requested the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) to issue an Opinion declaring the arbitrary character of Osama Al Najjar's detention. Osama is a known Emirati blogger, who was arrested in March 2014 for defending his father, one of the defendants in the UAE 94 trial, the biggest mass political trial in the history of the United Arab Emirates against 94 political activists accused of having plotted to overthrow the government.

UAE: Prominent Activist Naser Bin Ghaith Goes Missing After Abduction by State Security on 18 August 2015

UAE - News | 21 August 2015

On 20 August 2015, Alkarama sent an urgent appeal to the United Nations Working Group on Enforced Disappearances (WGEID) regarding the case of Naser Bin Ghaith, a prominent economist, academic and advocate for political reforms, who disappeared following his arrest by the UAE State Security forces on 18 August 2015. Alkarama is extremely concerned over his fate, in particular that he is at high risk of torture and ill-treatment, considering the systematic use of torture in secret detention in the UAE.

UAE: Arbitrary Detention and Torture of Libyan-Canadian Businessman Since August 2014

UAE - News | 18 August 2015

On 29 June 2015, Alkarama sent a request for Opinion to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) regarding the case of Salim Alaradi, a Libyan-Canadian businessman, father of five, who was arrested by Emirati Security Service officers while on vacation with his family in Dubai. After his arrest, on 28 August 2014, Alaradi was transferred to an unknown location, where he was detained incommunicado and severely tortured for 130 days. He is currently detained without trial at the Wathba Prison.

UAE: Jordanian Citizen Arbitrarily Detained for Over 4 Years Despite UN Call for Release

UAE - News | 13 August 2015

On 13 August 2015, Alkarama brought again to the attention of the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) the case of Rami Shaher Abdel Jalil Al Mrayat, a Jordanian citizen arbitrarily detained in the United Arab Emirates since 19 November 2011. In August 2013, the WGAD recognised the arbitrary character of Al Mrayat's detention and called upon the authorities to release him immediately. Two years later, however, the authorities still have not taken any step to release him.

UAE: UN Expert Raises Strong Concerns over Independence of Judges and Lawyers

UAE - News | 15 July 2015

On 18 June 2015, during the Human Rights Council (HRC)'s 29th session, the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers (SR IJL), Gabriela Knaul, presented the report on her visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 27 January to 5 February 2014 to assess the independence of the judiciary. Although Mrs Knaul welcomed the country's recent progress, such as the accession to various human rights treaties including the Convention against Torture (UNCAT) in July 2012, she expressed deep concerns over the human rights situation in the country, in particular with regards to the lack of independence of judges and lawyers, and the grave violations that persist, including secret and incommunicado detention and torture.

UAE - HR Instruments

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

No

Convention against Torture (CAT)

CAT: Accessed on 19.07.2012
Optional Protocol: No
Art. 20 (Confidential inquiry): No
Art. 22 (Individual communications): No

State report: Overdue since 19.10.2013 (1st)
Last concluding observations: -

International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance (CED)

No

Universal Periodic Review (UPR)

Last review: 11.2013 (2nd cycle)
Next review: -

National Human Rights Institution (NHRI)

No