UAE: Over 40 Activists Receive Life Sentences for 'Terror' Offenses

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Facts

  • On Wednesday, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) state news agency WAM reported that the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal sentenced 43 human rights advocates to life in prison for terror offenses and allegedly 'creating a terrorist organization.'1
  • The court reportedly put 84 defendants on trial, the majority of whom had served more than 10 years in jail following similar convictions in 2013. Ten others received sentences ranging from 10 to 15 years in prison, according to news reports, while one was acquitted and 24 cases were deemed inadmissible.2
  • The UAE government accused the defendants of being associated with the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist organization that the Emirates has deemed a terrorist group.3
  • According to Human Rights Watch, Dr. Nasser bin Ghaith, Abdulsalam Darwish al-Marzouqi, and Sultan Bin Kayed al-Qasimi were among those who received life sentences.1
  • The UAE has stringent laws on expression and prohibits political parties and labor unions. According to WAM, the ruling has the possibility of being appealed to the UAE's Federal Supreme Court.4

Sources: 1BBC News, 2Barrons, 3Associated Press and 4ABC News.

Narratives

  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Human Rights Watch. This verdict was expected. It was clear from the beginning that the UAE court would impose excessive sentences in a trial that was shamelessly unjust and characterized by many violations of due process and torture allegations. The court violated basic legal principles, including double jeopardy and retroactive punishment, for actions that were not illegal at the time they were allegedly committed. This unlawful ruling must be overturned, and the prisoners should be set free.
  • Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by WAM. The Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal handed down the sentences after finding that the convicted individuals had collaborated with a banned terrorist organization to instigate violent unrest in the country. This included protests and clashes between security forces and protesting crowds, which could have resulted in deaths, injuries, and property destruction. All convicted criminals have the right to appeal their verdicts to a higher court.