Over the past few days, the United Arab Emirates have increased their efforts to silence human rights and political activists who have exercised their legitimate right to freedom of expression by arresting them on national security grounds. At least 15 activists have been arrested by the Emirati security services in the last 72 hours in Ras Al-Khaimah, Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi following the forced deportation of Bidoon human rights defender Ahmed Abdulkhaleq to Thailand on 16 July, which was identified as a 'very disturbing case' by the UN. This latest round of arrests brings the number of activists arrested since March 2012 to 28. Alkarama condemns these arrests and calls for their immediate release.

Alkarama was informed that Mr Abdul Khaleq, one of the UAE5, a group of five well known government critics and human rights defenders who were subjected to and unfair trial in the United Arab Emirates last year, was re-arrested on 22 May 2012. Mr Abdul Khaleq is now believed to be detained in Al Sadr detention centre in view of his imminent expulsion to the Comoro Islands.

Alkarama today submitted an urgent appeal to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, and the UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, informing them of the arbitrary arrest of Mr Sultan bin Kayed al-Qasimi.