United Arab Emirates Human Rights

Human Rights Concerns

Amnesty International concern that ‘Abdullah Sultan al-Subaihat who was arrested by Amn al-Dawla officers on February 8 2007 and sentenced to three-year prison sentence, did not receive a fair trial. ‘Abdullah Sultan al-Subaihat is serving a three-year prison sentence at al-Wathba prison, some 60 km from the city of Abu Dhabi. He is alleged to have been tortured while detained incommunicado by members of Amn al-Dawla (State Security). After an unfair trial, he was found guilty of “obtaining secret information on state security”.

Naji Jawdat Hamdan, a US citizen of Lebanese origin, has been charged with terrorism-related offences and is likely to face trial soon, apparently on the basis of a statement he signed after being tortured. Amnesty International fears that he is at risk of being sentenced to death without the possibility of an appeal.

Naji Jawdat Hamdan was arrested at his home in the Emirate of ‘Ajman on 29 August 2008 by members of Amn al-Dawla (State Security). He was taken to Abu Dhabi where he was held incommunicado in solitary confinement until November 26 2008, when he was transferred to al-Wathba prison in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. He is said to have been charged with “promoting terrorism, participating in the work of a terrorist organization and cooperating with a terrorist organization”. Naji Jawdat Hamdan alleges that he was tortured while held incommunicado, in an underground cell in Abu Dhabi and under interrogation. He says he was kept blindfolded, and repeatedly punched and kicked all over his body until he lost consciousness. At times the mattress and blanket were removed from his cell and the air conditioning system was turned up. His interrogators told him that he should "confess" to being a member of al-Qa’ida, and when he refused, one of the interrogators forced him onto the floor and another beat him on the soles of the feet. At some point, he says, he was made to sit on a chair and had his wrists and legs strapped to it, and was told that it was an electric chair. During one interrogation session, he says someone who he believes to have been a US national spoke to him, and advised him to “do what they want”. Ultimately, he signed a statement to avoid further torture. He was subsequently charged with terrorism-related offences. Amnesty International does not know the contents of the statement; or the exact charges faced by Naji Jawdat Hamdan.

Reports indicate that some time between 2:00 and 4:00 on the morning of October 1st 2008 some 20 to 30 young men, many in their 20s, and at least five under the age of 18, were arrested in raids by security forces in coastal towns including, from north to south, Badiyah, Khor Fakkan and Khor Kalba. According to information received by Amnesty International, ground-based security forces, who were heavily armed and masked and supported by at least one helicopter, raided houses in these towns and carried out the arrests. Amnesty International is concern for the safety of those detained, in particular children, and asked for details regarding their place of detention and the legal basis for it.

A similar operation was reportedly carried out on or around 8 October, possibly in the Emirate of Fujairah, during which another 8 to 10 people were arrested. Amnesty International does not have any information regarding the whereabouts and legal status of these people.

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