Advocacy / United Arab Emirates
Jordanian activist Ahmed al-Atoum’s mother dies while he serves his 10-year prison sentence in the UAE for Facebook posts
MENA Rights Group leads a coalition of human rights organisations in calling on UAE authorities to immediately release arbitrarily detained Jordanian activist Ahmed al-Atoum after his mother's sudden passing. While al-Atoum is serving a 10-year sentence for Facebook posts criticising Jordanian authorities, he did not get a chance to say goodbye to his mother, nor to grieve her death with his family.
Emirates Humanitarian City: a refugee prison complex?
MENA Rights Group expresses deep concern over reported human rights violations against Afghan refugees who have been stuck in the "Emirates Humanitarian City" since August 2021.
UAE’s second-largest political mass trial is underway
While December 2023 saw the global spotlight on Dubai for the COP28, Abu Dhabi discreetly conducted the second-largest political mass trial in the UAE’s history, known as the “UAE87” in a complete absence of media coverage.
Urgent appeal for justice: condemning the unjust prosecution of dozens of Emiratis in the UAE
MENA Rights Group joins the Emirates Detainees Advocacy Center and 40+ civil society organisations in urging the UAE to drop the 'terrorism' charges against 80+ Emiratis, including human rights defenders.
UAE reject 40% of the recommendations made during its Universal Periodic Review
This press release highlights the UAE's response to recommendations made by UN member states during its Universal Periodic Review before the Human Rights Council. The UAE rejected 40% of recommendations, including a total rejection of recommendations related to freedom of expression/association and the ratification of the UN Convention against Torture.
Joint letter calling on COP28 participating governments to address UAE human rights abuses
MENA Rights Group joined more than 200 global organisations to demand that the international community pursue accountability for the UAE’s track record of repressive behavior at home and abroad ahead of the COP28 climate conference.
Human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor must be released immediately: joint letter to the US Department of State
MENA Rights Group joins 18 civil society organisations in urging the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to call on UAE officials to immediately and uncondtionally release Emirati human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor.
UAE: Release all those unjustly imprisoned before COP28
A joint appeal from 20+ organisations urging the UAE authorities to release all those unjustly imprisoned in the country, including human rights defenders, lawyers and dissidents, before the start of COP28 in Expo City Dubai between 30 November and 12 December 2023.
Universal Periodic Review: UN Member States urge UAE to protect human rights defenders, prohibit torture and uphold freedom of expression
The UAE received 323 recommendations from UN Member States on various human rights issues during its 4th cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). Ahead of the review, MENA Rights Group submitted a shadow report outlining a set of recommendations. In the press release below, we summarise the most crucial recommendations.
Joint statement: UAE human rights record ahead of COP28
As part of the SANID campaign, MENA Rights Group was joined by 40+ rights organisations in calling on the UAE to end its assault on human rights and freedoms. Ahead of the COP28 in November 2023, we remain deeply concerned over the UAE's attempt to whitewash its human rights record.