Global Arab Network | Human Rights Groups: UAE Should Release Activists Before Elections

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Human Rights Groups: UAE Should Release Activists Before Elections

Global Arab Network - - Mokhtar Thabet

Friday, 23 September 2011 15:07

Human_Rights_Groups_Say_UAE_Should_Release_Activists_Before_Elections

Global Arab Network - Several international human rights groups called on the United Arab Emirates to release five democracy activists ahead of nationwide elections that will be held over the weekend.

The rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW), said in a joint statement that the activists are in prison for simply expressing their political viewpoints and calling for democratic reforms.

Those in prison include a blogger, a university lecturer, and three online activists. They were arrested five months ago and were each charged with “publicly insulting” the president of the UAE.

The trial of the five men is slated to continue on Monday after the parliamentary elections.

“Continuing this sham trial two days after elections undermines any claim that UAE authorities really want to expand political participation in the country,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at HRW.

Two of the activists were also accused of conspiracy, but the rights groups say there is no evidence presented by the government to support such allegations. The rights groups said that the accused did nothing more than criticize the government on an Internet message board.

“The comments for which these men are being tried do not constitute an internationally recognizable criminal offence, yet they are being tried behind closed doors in a court from which there is no right to appeal,” Malcolm Smart, the Middle East director at Amnesty, said in a statement.

“UAE authorities should end this travesty of justice and release the five now and unconditionally,” he added.

Dehrar Belhoul, a 46-year-old Dubai government employee and candidate in the federal national council polls, told FT: “We don’t need what is in America, we don’t need what is Britain, let’s work slowly and not rush it.”

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, UAE president, this week urged eligible voters to use their rights. Candidates have focused on jobs for Emiratis, women’s rights and cultural identity, though much of the campaigning has lacked detail.

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