Torture in the UAE
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In the past 48 hours two further arrests have taken place, taking the total detained in the crackdown against dissidents to sixty amidst credible allegations of torture against those in detention.

Khamis al-Sum al-Zaiudi and Said al Kindi were arrested on September 9th and are being held at an unknown location. Al-Zaiudi is an appeal court judge and al Kindi is a lawyer.

Six detainees were presented to a judge at the Supreme Court on September 6th at which time they had their remand renewed. Hasan al Mansoori, son of Dr. Mohamed al Mansoori, has detailed the messages communicated by the detainees & their physical state.

Prisoners are said to be kept in separate cells that are so small they cannot sleep or rest in a normal position with lights on them 24 hours a day.

Salem al-Shehi is said to have lost a significant amount of weight, was heard crying and hysterically asking to go to the toilet. He was clearly scared and disorientated. Issa al-Serri was unable to stand or walk properly and had cut lips that were indicative of having been deprived of water for a significant period of time.

Ibrahim al-Yassi was also unable to walk properly as his knees were badly hurt and Rashid al-Shamsi claimed that he had been given strange tablets to swallow. Rashid al-Shamsi also complained of having a very small cell and that he was being continuously bombarded by cold air, which was denying him both sleep and comfort.

All the detainees that were present at the court appeared dishevelled, appearing dirty with scruffy beards and hair.
Their appearance has led to serious concerns about the treatment of all detainees and their continued incommunicado status at unknown locations.

In addition to this, the case of Ahmed al Suwaidi is causing grave concern. Since his arrest on March 26th, and subsequent transferral to an unknown location on April 26th, it is believed he has not been in contact with the outside world.

Given the length of his incarceration without charge, detention at an unknown location and state of being incommunicado there are serious fears for his physical wellbeing and we call on the authorities to disclose his location, allow his family to visit & for medical practitioners to assess his physical wellbeing.

There are fears that the crackdown may be about to escalate after it emerged that, after over 140 days in detention, Sultan bin Kayed al Qasimi, cousin of Ras al Khaimah’s ruler, and Saleh al Dhufeiri were moved from the palace in RAK & moved to Abu Dhabi. No further details have emerged as to why this has taken place.

The Emirates Centre for Human Rights calls on the UAE authorities to immediately end any torture being carried out against detainees, disclose all locations of those held, grant legal counsel & family visitation as well as beginning the process of an open trial in the presence of a group of international observers.

In light of the fact the authorities are clearly disregarding the rule of law, we call on the international community to apply the principles they have espoused about the Arab Spring to the UAE; namely, that those who seek democratic accountability in a peaceful manner have their rights to freedom of speech & association protected and that citizens not be subjected to torture at the hands of their government.