UAE: More than 50 human rights organizations call for the release of prisoners of conscience

In a joint statement, dozens of human rights organizations called on Western countries allied with the UAE to pressure the Abu Dhabi authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all those convicted in the mass trial of members of the so-called “UAE 94” group.

The joint statement, signed by 51 human rights organizations, described the trial as lacking the most basic international standards necessary for a fair trial and due legal procedures, noting that although many of those who were sentenced to 10 years in prison were due to be released this year, they are still detained after the end of their sentences.

The statement, which comes on the occasion of the ninth anniversary of the trial, said that the members of the “UAE 94” are among the many prisoners of conscience who were arrested solely for the peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association.

According to the statement, one of the main reasons for the authorities targeting members of the UAE 94 was their signature on the reform petition, which was submitted on March 3, 2011 to the President of the State and members of the Supreme Council, who are the rulers of the seven emirates, as the signatories demanded that all members of the Federal National Council be elected by all Citizens, as applied in democratic countries around the world, in addition to amending the relevant constitutional articles of the Federal National Council to ensure it has full legislative and oversight powers.