Tag Archives: UAE

United Arab Emirates: ‘not a country for business as usual’

Sem categoria 12/01/2022 Leave a comment

12/01/22

United Arab Emirates: 'not a country for business as usual'

While the United Arab Emirates is making a good impression with EXPO 2020, lawyers and other human rights defenders are languishing in prison in the Gulf state.

Of course, it looks neat, the website of World Expo 2020, which is currently being held in Dubai. According to the website, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was very happy when it heard in 2013 that it had been chosen to organize the World Expo.

But as fireworks were set off to celebrate this sign of global recognition, three human rights lawyers were in custody, awaiting the mass trial in which they and 91 other human rights defenders were eventually sentenced to long prison sentences. The lawyers Mohammed al-Roken, Mohammed al-Mansoori and Razzaq al-Siddiq are now serving a ten-year prison sentence for signing a petition for political reform and for defending human rights defenders.

Leaked letters

“I know Al-Mansoori and Al-Roken well, they are friends of mine,” said Khalid Ibrahim, Director of the independent human rights organization Gulf Center for Human Rights (CGHR). In 2011, Al-Roken defended the famous poet and human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor. Mansoor has been in prison since 2017. He was the last human rights defender in the UAE who was still free. Through leaked letters we know how Mansoor is treated: solitary confinement in a bare cell, no contact with his family, no books and no medication for his heart disease. Even his mattress was taken from him.”

Ibrahim has serious concerns about the circumstances of the three lawyers. “Their prison sentences will end in 2023, but it is questionable whether they will be released. On heyday, prisoners are released early on a regular base, but they never include political prisoners. At the same time there are people whose sentences have ended, but who are not released because they refuse to admit in a video that they are guilty.”

[….]

United Arab Emirates: ‘not a country for business as usual’

CORRECTION:
We have just been informed by GCHR that Mr. Al-Saddiq is a scholar and professor but not a human rights lawyer.

https://www.gc4hr.org/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_Al-Rukn

EU Parliament urges UAE to free imprisoned human rights activists

Sem categoria 18/09/2021 Leave a comment

17/09/21

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European Union legislators have urged the United Arab Emirates to free several prominent human rights activists and other “peaceful dissidents” imprisoned in the country.

In a strongly worded resolution passed on Thursday, the EU Parliament condemned alleged rights violations in the wealthy Gulf state and demanded the “immediate” and unconditional release of Ahmed Mansoor, Mohammed al-Roken and Nasser bin Ghaith.

The resolution was approved with a sizeable majority, winning the support of 383 legislators. Just 47 legislators opposed the text, while 259 abstained from the vote.

Mansoor, 52, was arrested in 2017 and later sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of publishing false information and “insulting the status and prestige of the UAE”, including in posts on social media platforms.

Global rights group Amnesty International has designated the activist, who has allegedly been held in solitary confinement since his arrest, as a “prisoner of conscience”.

Al-Roken, a human rights lawyer, is also considered a “prisoner of conscience” by Amnesty.

The 58-year-old is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence after being found guilty of attempting to overthrow the government in a July 2013 mass trial that saw scores of other defendants convicted.

Bin Ghaith, an economist and academic, was also imprisoned for 10 years in March 2017 over a series of social media posts deemed to be critical of UAE authorities.

Call for Expo boycott

The EU Parliament resolution called for “all other human rights defenders, political activists and peaceful dissidents” detained in the country to be freed.

It urged EU member states to boycott the Expo 2020 world fair in Dubai, “in order to signal their disapproval of the human rights violations in the UAE”, recommending they “withdraw their sponsorship”.

[…]

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/17/eu-parliament-urges-uae-to-free-imprisoned-human-rights-activists

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/RC-9-2021-0434_EN.html

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uae-european-parliament-release-political-prisoners-boycott-dubai-expo

https://icfuae.org.uk/press-releases/european-parliament-adopts-resolution-condemning-uae-human-rights-abuses

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_Al-Rukn

Day of the Endangered Lawyer: Exclusive Interview: Diego García-Sayán, the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers

Sem categoria 25/01/2021 Leave a comment

24/01/21

DGS2-Website-e1556922518370

On the International Day of Endangered Lawyers – 2021, we have the privilege of having an exclusive interview with Mr Diego García-Sayán, the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers. We talked about a wide range of topics: from growing authoritarianism to attacks on judges and lawyers; Poland, Turkey, Hungary, Italy and others.

Q1: Mr Garcia-Sayán, first we must thank you for your incredible efforts to protect the lawyers and judges across the world in these difficult times. Could you start by talking more about your mission as the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers?

In 1994, the Commission on Human Rights, in resolution 1994/41, noting both the increasing frequency of attacks on the independence of judges, lawyers and court officials and the link which exists between the weakening of safeguards for the judiciary and lawyers and the gravity and frequency of violations of human rights, decided to appoint, for a period of three years, a Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers. Like other Special Procedures, this mandate was assumed by the Human Rights Council (General Assembly resolution 60/251), and extended for one year, subject to the review to be undertaken by the Council (Human Rights Council decision 2006/102).

The responsibility entrusted to the Special Rapporteur s diverse and complex. His/her  mandate is broad and covers issues such as access to justice, the independence and impartiality of the judiciary and the proper functioning of the justice system, the protection of the person and function of judges, lawyers, prosecutors and judicial officers, and the right to a fair trial and due process. All of these aspects are fundamental to the exercise of human rights.

[…]

Exclusive Interview: Diego García-Sayán, the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers

https://www.euronews.com/2021/01/24/human-rights-lawyers-in-turkey-face-threats-and-detention-view

Les avocats des droits humains en Turquie sont menacés et détenus | Vue
(FRANCAIS)

https://www.avocats-toulouse.com/fr/actualites-du-barreau/la-une/profession-journee-mondiale-de-lavocat-en-danger-2021

http://www.armenews.com/spip.php?page=article&id_article=75142

https://www.ansa.it/emiliaromagna/notizie/2021/01/24/giornata-dellavvocato-minacciato-webinar-a-bologna_174ad9d3-6dcb-4f3e-9f7a-a004313856d9.html (ITALIANO)

https://www.consiglionazionaleforense.it/web/cnf-calendario/-/748216

https://unba.org.ua/news/6235-24-sichnya-vshanovuet-sya-den-postrazhdalih-advokativ.html (UKRAINIAN)

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IDHAE: Free the Lawyers now!

Sem categoria 09/12/2017 Leave a comment

December 9, 2017

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Protecting #humanrights for all is essential to maintaining international peace On this Human Rights Day ask for the release of these heroes who are advancing human rights in #SaudiaArabia , in#Egypt , in #Turkey in #UAE#StandUp4HumanRights#
Free the Lawyers now !

(L’Observatoire IDHAE Facebook)

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/saudi-blogger-raif-badawi-may-receive-royal-pardon-5-years-after-being-jailed-insulting-islam-1650769

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Activists in Egypt, like Mahienour and many others, are facing trial based on the Protest Law as well as the Assembly Law.
The latter has been put together in the year 1914 during the British Colonialism. It criminalises “an assembly that constitutes of more than 5 people, which shall risk the general peace…”

A law that was issued more than 100 years ago is the tool that is used to crack upon human rights activists.

#FreeMahienour
#FreeEgypt

(الحرية لماهينور – Free Mahienour Facebook)

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Today we received this by mail
Actually all most everyone in Sweden received it too
It’s says “that’s happening in Egypt now”
With numbers and facts about women rights in Egypt by Azza Soliman

(Facebook)

UAE: Jailed prominent human rights lawyer Mohammed Al-Roken awarded human rights prize

Sem categoria 22/11/2017 Leave a comment

November 21, 2017

The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) congratulates jailed Emirati prominent human rights lawyer Dr. Mohammed Al-Roken, who has been awarded the Ludovic-Trarieux International Human Rights Prize for 2017 at a ceremony in Venice, Italy on 10 November 2017. Dr. Al-Roken, who is serving a ten-year sentence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), was unable to accept the prestigious award, so Mohammed Al-Saqer, a colleague from the now-dissolved Association of Jurists, accepted it on his behalf.

In his speech, Al-Saqer called Dr. Al-Roken “a man of principles who defends the human and civic rights of all people.” He noted that Dr. Al-Roken was a brave lawyer who would take on cases known to be “dangerous” to defend, because he was “the only one who will accept this challenge and he is paying now for all that with his freedom.”

He continued, “Dr. Al-Roken did not work for fame, but was working to defend the voiceless, the poor people, and citizens in order to deliver the rights to those who deserve to have it. He is a person who looked at the needs of people more than a lawyer seeking fame or money, and some of those whose cases he took said after his arrest that he refused to take any money from them for his work.

Dr. Al-Roken was arrested on 17 July 2012, just after his son and his daughter’s husband were arrested as part of a round-up of activists, including prominent human rights defenders, judges, academics, and student leaders. Dr. Al-Roken was among many others who were held in secret detention centres and subjected to torture after being placed in solitary confinement for months, uninterrupted light, high cold, beatings and many violations by the State Security Apparatus.

On 04 March 2013, the government commenced the mass, unfair trial of 94 defendants before the State Security Chamber of the Federal Supreme Court in Abu Dhabi in case that came to be known as the UAE94. The government accused them of “establishing an organisation that aimed to overthrow the government,” a charge which they all denied. On 2 July 2013, the court convicted 69 of the defendants sentencing them with up to 15 years in prison. Dr. Al-Roken was sentenced to 10 years, and Al-Saqer to five years in prison in absentia. Their trials were widely condemned as lacking the minimum international standards of fair trial and due process.

…

http://www.gc4hr.org/news/view/1733

http://www.uianet.org/en/content/join-campaign-obtain-immediate-and-unconditional-r

http://icfuae.org.uk/news/award-ceremony-ludovic-trarieux-awarded-al-roken-take-place-next-week

http://www.gc4hr.org/news/view/1734 (ARABIC)

http://www.uianet.org/fr/content/stop-%C3%A0-la-d%C3%A9tention-de-l%E2%80%99avocat-%C3%A9mirati-mohammed-a (FRANCAIS)

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VENISE -10 Novembre 2017
Le Jury a rendu Hommage au lauréat du Prix International des Droits deL’Homme”Ludovic-Trarieux” 2017 (L’Observatoire IDHAE Facebook)

UAE: Free Mohammed Al Roken!

Sem categoria 25/09/2017 Leave a comment

September 25, 2017

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Mohammed Al Roken is a detained human rights lawyer and recipient of the 2017 Ludovic Trarieux International Human Rights Prize, which will be awarded in Venice on November 10, 2017.

The Jury of 27 european lawyers, meeting in Academie de France, in Villa Medicis in Rome, awarded the 22nd s”Ludovic-Trarieux, to
Mohammed al-Roken
United Arab Emirates (UAE),
Mohammed Al-Roken, 54, former president of UAE Jurists Association, is a leading human rights lawyer who provides legal assistance to victims of human rights abuses in the UAE, including to fellow human rights defenders.
He was one of the defence lawyers in last year’s prominent case of five political activists – known as the ‘UAE 5’–a group of five individuals who were sentenced to between two and three years’imprisonment for petitioning the government for legislative reforms in 2011. He is currently serving a ten-year prison sentence as a result of a mass trial of 94 human rights defenders and political activists in the UAE.

The Jury was representing bars from, Amsterdam, Athens, Berlin, Bordeaux Brussels, Geneva, Paris, Roma, Luxemburg, Venice, Cracovia and the European Bar Human Rights Institute (IDHAE) and of Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA

The Jury launched an appeal to UAE authorities to release immediately and without conditions.

Le Jury du XXIIème Prix International des Droits de l’Homme “Ludovic-Trarieux” 2017 réunis en séance de délibération, à l’Académie de France à la Villa Médicis à Rome a été attribué le Samedi 27 mai 2017, à

Mohammed al-Roken,
(Émirats arabes unis)

Mohammed al-Roken, 54 ans, ancien président de l’Association des juristes des Émirats arabes unis, s’est consacré à la défense et à la promotion des droits de l’homme et des libertés fondamentales tout en soulignant leur universalité et indivisibilité. Il , était l’un des avocats de la défense dans l’affaire très médiatisée concernant cinq militants politiques – connus sous le nom « UAE 5 », « Cinq des Émirats » – qui ont été arrêtés, jugés et condamnés à une peine de prison par un tribunal-émirati en novembre 2011 . Détenu depuis le 17 juillet 2012, il a été condamné en juillet 2013, à 10 ans de prison, interdit d’exercer sa profession d’avocat et transféré dans l’une des prisons les plus redoutées des Émirats arabes unis.

Les membres du Jury représentaient les barreaux d’Amsterdam, Athènes, Berlin, Bordeaux, Bruxelles, Genève, Luxembourg, Paris, Rome, Venise, Athènes, Cracovie, l’Institut des Droits de l’Homme des Avocats européens (IDHAE) et l’Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA).
Le Jury a lancé un appel aux autorités pour qu’elles libèrent immédiatement et sans condition Mohammed al-Roken.

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(Ludovic Trarieux Facebook)

http://www.ludovictrarieux.org/uk-index.htm

http://www.uianet.org/fr/content/ensemble-obtenons-la-lib%C3%A9ration-imm%C3%A9diate-et-incon

http://www.dsa.gr/%CE%BD%CE%AD%CE%B1/%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%B1%CE%BA%CE%BF%CE%B9%CE%BD%CF%8E%CF%83%CE%B5%CE%B9%CF%82/22%CE%BF-%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%B5%CE%B8%CE%BD%CE%AD%CF%82-%CE%B2%CF%81%CE%B1%CE%B2%CE%B5%CE%AF%CE%BF-%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%B8%CF%81%CF%89%CF%80%CE%AF%CE%BD%CF%89%CE%BD-%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%B1%CE%B9%CF%89%CE%BC%CE%AC%CF%84%CF%89%CE%BD-ludovic-trarieux-2017%CF%83%CF%84%CE%BF%CE%BD-%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%B7%CE%B3%CF%8C%CF%81%CE%BF-moham (GREEK)

UAE/Prix Ludovic Trarieux: Call for the release of Dr. Mohammed Al-Roken, Emirati lawyer and former member of the UIA

Sem categoria 19/07/2017 Leave a comment

July 18, 2017

The UIA invites you to support Dr. Mohammed Al-Roken, by signing an open letter to the Emirati government drafted by the International Centre for Justice and Human Rights (ICJHR) and calling for his release (see below).

Dr. Mohammand Al-Roken is a prominent Emirati human rights lawyer, former President of the UAE’s Jurists Association and former member of the UIA.

He was arrested as part of a wave of mass arrests that began in March 2012.

In July 2013, after a trial that was qualified as arbitrary by observers, Dr. Al-Roken was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment, of which 3 were in probation for “establishing an organization that aims at overthrowing the government”, a charge he denied in court. He was also banned from practicing law.

Dr. Mohammed Al-Roken has devoted his life to the defense and promotion of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of others, emphasizing their universal essence and indivisibility.

Due to his human rights work and his defense of lawyers and political activists of all backgrounds, over the  past 10 years Dr. Mohammed Al-Roken was the target of continual harassment and surveillance proceedings. He has been arrested and detained several times, subjected to a travel ban, and also subjected to enforced disappearance.

Every name counts, so please add your name and the name of your function/organization by emailing  the ICJHR at icjhr.geneva@gmail.com.

For a detailed description of his case, please see the report below.

…

http://www.uianet.org/en/content/call-release-dr-mohammed-al-roken-emirati-lawyer-a

UAE/Prix Ludovic Trarieux: Prix International des droits de l’homme Ludovic-Trarieux 2017 (Communiqué de presse)/Ludovic-Trarieux International Human Rights Prize 2017 (press release)

Sem categoria 07/06/2017 Leave a comment

07/06/17

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Prix International des droits de l’homme Ludovic-Trarieux 2017

Ludovic-Trarieux International Human Rights Prize 2017

Internationalen Ludovic-Trarieux-Menschenrechtspreis 2017

Premio Internazionale per i Diritti Umani Ludovic Trarieux 2017

Ludovic Trarieux Internationale Mensenrechtenprijs 2017

 

Depuis/Since/Desde/Dal/Sinds 1984

COMMUNIQUIE DE PRESSE FR-UK2017

http://www.uianet.org/fr/content/lavocat-%C3%A9mirati-mohammed-al-roken-prix-internation (FRANCAIS)

UAE/Prix Ludovic Trarieux: Jailed UAE lawyer awarded major human rights prize

Sem categoria 28/05/2017 Leave a comment

May 27, 2017

According to Amnesty International, UAE lawyer Mohammed al-Roken's trial

A UAE lawyer sentenced to 10 years in 2013 for plotting against the regime was on Saturday awarded a major human rights award.

Mohammed al-Roken was among 69 people jailed on charges of conspiring to overthrow the government following a mass trial criticised by rights groups.

Awarding him the Ludovic Trarieux Award, the prize committee said Roken had devoted two decades to defending fundamental freedoms.

A former head of the UAE Jurists’ Association, Roken, 54, was arrested in July 2012, after taking on the defence of several government opponents, including seven islamists.

The prize jury lamented that Roken’s trial had gone ahead behind closed doors and demanded his immediate release.

Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa deputy director at the time staunchly criticised both the proceedings and the verdicts.

…

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-4548338/Jailed-UAE-lawyer-awarded-major-human-rights-prize.html

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/afp/2017/05/uae-politics-rights.html

http://www.ludovictrarieux.org/uk-page3.callplt2017.htm

https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2017/5/28/jailed-uae-lawyer-awarded-human-rights-prize

http://www.manilatimes.net/jailed-uae-lawyer-awarded-major-human-rights-prize/329738/

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/05/lawyer-mohammed-al-roken-awarded-human-rights-prize-170528103532469.html

https://www.middleeastobserver.org/2017/05/28/jailed-uae-lawyer-awarded-human-rights-prize/

http://www.nampa.org/index.php?model=categories&function=display&id=16717145

http://mwcnews.net/news/middle-east/65736-lawyer-mohammed-al-roken-awarded.html?fontstyle=f-larger

http://tvnewslies.org/tvnl/index.php/news/human-rights/44536-lawyer-mohammed-al-roken-awarded-human-rights-prize.html

http://www.albawaba.com/editorchoice/jailed-uae-lawyer-awarded-prestigious-prize-human-rights-work-979392

http://www.ludovictrarieux.org/tributebalochbarassociation.htm

http://www.globallegalpost.com/big-stories/lawyer-mohammed-al-roken-awarded-human-rights-prize-61612088/

http://ic4jhr.org/en/rokn-en/468-who-is-mohamed-al-roken.html

https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1054088/droits-de-lhomme-les-barreaux-europeens-priment-un-avocat-emirati-emprisonne.html (FRANCAIS)

http://www.ludovictrarieux.org/fr-page3.callplt2017.htm (FRANCAIS)

http://www.sudouest.fr/2017/05/30/bordeaux-le-prix-trarieux-revient-a-un-avocat-emirati-3489566-2780.php (FRANCAIS)

https://fr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prix_Ludovic-Trarieux (FRANCAIS)

http://fa.shafaqna.com/news/386618/1396/03/07/%D9%88%DA%A9%DB%8C%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%AC%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B2%D9%87-%D8%AD%D9%82%D9%88%D9%82/? (ARABIC)

http://af.shafaqna.com/FA/203177 (ARABIC)

http://www.ludovictrarieux.org/eau-page3.callplt2017.htm (ARABIC)

http://www.ludovictrarieux.org/sp-page3.callplt2017.htm (ESPANOL)

http://www.ludovictrarieux.org/it-page3.callplt2017.htm (ITALIANO)

http://www.ludovictrarieux.org/ge-page3.callplt2017.htm (DEUTSCH)

http://www.dsa.gr/%CE%BD%CE%AD%CE%B1/%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%B1%CE%BA%CE%BF%CE%B9%CE%BD%CF%8E%CF%83%CE%B5%CE%B9%CF%82/22%CE%BF-%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%B5%CE%B8%CE%BD%CE%AD%CF%82-%CE%B2%CF%81%CE%B1%CE%B2%CE%B5%CE%AF%CE%BF-%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%B8%CF%81%CF%89%CF%80%CE%AF%CE%BD%CF%89%CE%BD-%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%B1%CE%B9%CF%89%CE%BC%CE%AC%CF%84%CF%89%CE%BD-ludovic-trarieux-2017%CF%83%CF%84%CE%BF%CE%BD-%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%B7%CE%B3%CF%8C%CF%81%CE%BF-moham (GREEK)

http://beritakita.co/2017/05/28/pengacara-mohammed-al-roken-dianugerahi-penghargaan-utama-ham/ (INDONESIAN)

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2017 Dr winner of Ludovic Trarieux prize2017

المركزالدولي للعدالة@ICJaHR

UAE: Call for the release of Dr. Mohammed Al-Roken, Emirati lawyer and former member of the UIA

Sem categoria 22/09/2016 Leave a comment

September 22, 2016

The UIA invites you to support Dr. Mohammed Al-Roken, by signing an open letter to the Emirati government drafted by the International Centre for Justice and Human Rights (ICJHR) and calling for his release (see below).

Dr. Mohammand Al-Roken is a prominent Emirati human rights lawyer, former President of the UAE’s Jurists Association and former member of the UIA.

He was arrested as part of a wave of mass arrests that began in March 2012.

In July 2013, after a trial that was qualified as arbitrary by observers, Dr. Al-Roken was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment, of which 3 were in probation for “establishing an organization that aims at overthrowing the government”, a charge he denied in court. He was also banned from practicing law.

Dr. Mohammed Al-Roken has devoted his life to the defense and promotion of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of others, emphasizing their universal essence and indivisibility.

Due to his human rights work and his defense of lawyers and political activists of all backgrounds, over the  past 10 years Dr. Mohammed Al-Roken was the target of continual harassment and surveillance proceedings. He has been arrested and detained several times, subjected to a travel ban, and also subjected to enforced disappearance.

Every name counts, so please add your name and the name of your function/organization by emailing  the ICJHR at icjhr.geneva@gmail.com.

For a detailed description of his case, please see the report below.

http://www.uianet.org/fr/content/call-release-dr-mohammed-al-roken-emirati-lawyer-a