It is very concerning to note that the UAE court has made an unsuitable decision for 84 people. They were sentenced 43 people to life in prison. This is because UAE courts think that these people were part of the Muslim Brotherhood group. And they planned to attack the country.
Furthermore, 10 more people also get punishment from the UAE court. And the fate of the remaining ones is unclear. Additionally, 6 companies feel ashamed because of money laundering to support terrorist groups
This type of the decision of the court clearly highlights that in UAE the justice system has gone awry. These people are in their older age period. Some of them are lawyers, some are writers, some are TV presenters and also former government workers are included in it. These people were convicted in the UAE’s largest mass trial a decade ago, following the 2011 Arab Spring.
In 2013 this nation also sentenced 94 people to 10 years to prison.
Why were people sentenced to prison?
The court announced this punishment because these people signed an open letter calling for democratic reforms, like an elected Parliament with real legislative power. The following year, a United Nations working group found that their convictions were based on actions that should have been protected under the rights to freedom of expression and assembly, labeling their detention as arbitrary.
In 2023, they were supposed to be released. But unfortunately their punishment increased and they were charged again for the same events. This time the punishment was given under laws that were introduced in 2014. It is very concerning that UAE is the nation where people got punished twice for the same crime. Additionally the United Arab Emirates announced these new charges at the time of COP28 in Dubai.
The decision of the court was very unfair. Also defendants are not allowed to get legal help. They have no permission to talk with their lawyers and discuss the charges. In order to further increase the punishment period, the judges held secret hearings. Also these people get very harsh treatment and some of them complain about long solitary confinement and other harsh conditions, like being assaulted and not getting their prescribed medications.
According to the family members of the victims, they are not allowed to meet their loved ones. Also lawyers are told not to assist the prisoners or their families and not to give them clear information.
The researcher of the Human Right Watch, Joey Shea stated, : “This unfair mass trial is a farce, and the allegations of torture and gross fair trial violations lay bare the UAE’s hollow rule of law and utter lack of access to justice.” She made a forlorn appeal for the UAE’s imperialist allies, the US, UK and the European Union, to “urgently call for an end to these abuses and for the release of human rights activists.”
No country across the globe focuses on the trial. If it had been in Iran, there would likely be more outcry. As the UAE has a strong relationship with the US. So, it clearly means that human rights violations in this country are rarely criticized.
Abu Dhabi has a vast surveillance system from an Israeli-owned company, linking thousands of cameras.
The citizens in the nation are not allowed to speak freely and express their opinions. The government tightly controls the media and all social platforms. People who speak freely risk imprisonment. Also their families face harsh behavior from government officials. The United Arab Emirates holds at least 26 prisoners of conscience.
The country practices capital punishment and discriminates against women, migrants, and LGBT individuals. Recently, an Irish woman in the UAE faced charges after being assaulted, released after her government intervened.
It is also important to note that foreigners also work in tough environments in the United Arab Emirates. They work for long hours without any basic protections such as safety standards or minimum wage. In hot summer months the heat poses serious health risks for these foreigners.
The UAE is the strong partner of the United State and supports this nation in global politics. But the UAE also pursues its own interests. All those groups that create tension in Qatar and Turkey get criticism from the UAE. This nation is also involved in the Yemen war but has shifted its support. It’s also balancing relations, joining the Abraham Accords with Israel while improving ties with Iran.
It clearly highlights the complicated foreign policy of this nation. So, one can conclude that this nation has its own strategic goals.