Amnesty International believes that the only reason they were imprisoned was because they promoted democratic reforms, and so considers them prisoners of conscience.
„World leaders must not prioritize economic interests over human rights and ignore serious violations of fundamental rights in the United Arab Emirates. They should use their influence to see to it that all prisoners of conscience were released, and to respect their right to the freedom of expression, association and assembly, „said Said Boumedouha, deputy program director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa divisions.
Overall, the federal Supreme Court convicted a total of 94 activists. Sixty-nine defendants were sentenced to prison for a period ranging from seven to fifteen years. The process was unjust and blatantly violated the due process of law. For example, judges accepted as evidence of guilt „confessions“ obtained under torture, and defendants were denied contact with lawyers. Several activists have complained that their signatures were forged on the confession.
The defendants said during the trial that they suffered from all forms of ill-treatment in prison. They were prevented from sleeping and spent long periods of time in solitary confinement. In addition, prison staff threatened them with electric shocks, rape, and death. The judge ignored all these allegations. Because activists were convicted by the Supreme Federal Court, none of them had the opportunity to appeal the judgment, which is inconsistent with the international obligations of the United Arab Emirates with respect to human rights.
Celé znění on-line petice, kterou posíláme adresátům.
The immediate and unconditional release of democratic reformists from the United Arab Emirates.
Vážený pane prezidente,
obracím se na Vás, abych vyjádřil/a své hluboké znepokojení nad situací devíti mužů, kteří byli 2. července 2013 v Abú Zabí odsouzeni za kritiku vlády a uznáni vinnými ze „založení organizace s cílem sesadit vládu“.
Mezi vězněné muže patří: profesor ústavního práva a prominentní lidskoprávní advokát Dr. Mohammed al-Roken; prominentní lidskoprávní advokát Dr. Mohammed al-Mansoori; bývaý učitel Saleh Mohammed al-Dhufairi; učitel Hussain Ali al-Najjar al-Hammadi; univerzitní profesor a bývalý soudce Ahmed al-Zaabi; zakladatel Ittihad University Sheikh Dr. Sultan Kayed Mohammed Al-Qassimi; univerzitní studenti Khalifa al-Nuaimi a Abdulla al-Hajri; a Dr. Ali Hussain al-Hammadi.
Amnesty International se domnívá, že jediným důvodem pro uvěznění byla jejich snaha o nenásilné prosazení demokratických reforem. Považuje je proto za vězně svědomí.
Muži navíc musí ve vězení čelit mučení a dalšímu špatnému zacházení. Soudce ovšem všechna obvinění ignoroval. Jelikož byli aktivisté odsouzeni Nejvyšším federálním soudem, nikdo z nich neměl možnost se proti rozsudku odvolat, což je v rozporu s mezinárodními závazky Spojených arabských emirátů o dodržování lidských práv.
Proto Vás, pane prezidente, vyzývám, abyste se zasadil o to, že všech devět mužů bude okamžitě propuštěno, a abyste nařídil nezávislé vyšetření obvinění z jejich mučení.
Děkuji Vám za čas, který této naléhavé záležitosti věnujete.
S úctou
Dear Mr. President,
Allow me to turn to you to express my deep concern about nine peaceful government critics who have been sentenced on 2 July 2013 as part of a series of trials in Abu Dhabi and were found guilty of „founding an organization with intent to overthrow the government“.
The nine prisoners are: professor of constitutional law and prominent human rights lawyer Dr Mohammed al-Roken; prominent human rights lawyer Dr Mohammed al-Mansoori; former teacher Saleh Mohammed al-Dhufairi; teacher Hussain Ali al-Najjar al-Hammadi; university professor and former judge Ahmed al-Zaabi; founder of Ittihad University Sheikh Dr Sultan Kayed Mohammed Al-Qassimi; university students Khalifa al-Nuaimi and Abdulla al-Hajri; and Dr Ali Hussain al-Hammadi.
Amnesty International believes that the only reason these nine individuals are behind bars is because they dared to call for a democratic reform in the United Arab Emirates.
Furthermore, the men are believed to be suffering torture and other ill-treatment in prison. Nevertheless, the court ignored all their allegations. Because the trial has been held in the Federal Supreme Court, none of the defendants have had the right to appeal their conviction, which is in flagrant violation of the UAE’s obligations under international human rights law.
Therefore, I call on you, Mr. President, to ensure that the men are immediately and unconditionaly released and to order an investigation of all reports of their torture and other ill-treatment.
Yours sincerely,
