“UAE94” detainee Hadef al-Awois forcibly disappeared since July 18, 2023
Name(s):
Hadef Rashed Abdallah Nasser al-Awois
Status:
Forcibly disappeared
Year of birth:
1958
Profession:
Member of the teaching staff at the United Arab Emirates University
Nationality:
Emirati
Date of arrest:
Hadef Rashed al-Awois is an Emirati citizen, who was arrested on September 11, 2012, as part of the “UAE94”. He was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment. He completed his sentence in September 2022 but remains detained. On July 18, 2023, he gave his last phone call to his family, and they have lost contact with him since then.
In March 2011, after a group of 133 Emirati academics, judges, lawyers, students, and human rights defenders signed a petition addressed to the President of the United Arab Emirates and the country’s Federal Supreme Council calling for democratic reforms, the UAE’s State Security Apparatus (SSA) initiated a campaign of arrests against the individuals who signed the document.
Hadef Rashed al-Awois is a former teaching staff member at the United Arab Emirates University. On September 11, 2012, he was arrested as part of the “UAE94” for signing the petition calling for democratic reform in the UAE.
Arrested individuals were later sentenced in the UAE’s largest mass trial, known as the “UAE94”, before the Federal Supreme Court.
On January 27, 2013, the 94 defendants were charged with founding, organising and administering an organisation aimed at overthrowing the government, on the basis of article 180 of the penal code.
On July 2, 2013, the Emirati authorities convicted 61 of the 94 defendants, in addition to eight individuals in absentia. Al-Awois was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.
Al-Awois completed his sentence in September 2022, but under the pretext of “rehabilitation needs”, pursuant to the UAE’s Counter-Terrorism Law and the Munasaha Centre Law, the authorities have extended his detention indefinitely. He suffers from ongoing violations, as he continues to this day to be held arbitrarily.
On July 18, 2023, al-Awois made a final call to his family from within Al Razeen Prison. Since then, his family has not received any communication from him. He is being held incommunicado since that date, with no access or contact with the outside world.
On September 12, 2023, MENA Rights Group requested the urgent intervention of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, calling on them to urge the Emirati authorities to take action to clarify al-Awois’ fate and whereabouts.
| Name(s): |
Hadef Rashed Abdallah Nasser al-Awois
|
| Status: |
Forcibly disappeared
|
| Year of birth: |
1958
|
| Profession: |
Member of the teaching staff at the United Arab Emirates University
|
| Nationality: |
Emirati
|
| Date of arrest: |
|
In March 2011, after a group of 133 Emirati academics, judges, lawyers, students, and human rights defenders signed a petition addressed to the President of the United Arab Emirates and the country’s Federal Supreme Council calling for democratic reforms, the UAE’s State Security Apparatus (SSA) initiated a campaign of arrests against the individuals who signed the document.
Hadef Rashed al-Awois is a former teaching staff member at the United Arab Emirates University. On September 11, 2012, he was arrested as part of the “UAE94” for signing the petition calling for democratic reform in the UAE.
Arrested individuals were later sentenced in the UAE’s largest mass trial, known as the “UAE94”, before the Federal Supreme Court.
On January 27, 2013, the 94 defendants were charged with founding, organising and administering an organisation aimed at overthrowing the government, on the basis of article 180 of the penal code.
On July 2, 2013, the Emirati authorities convicted 61 of the 94 defendants, in addition to eight individuals in absentia. Al-Awois was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.
Al-Awois completed his sentence in September 2022, but under the pretext of “rehabilitation needs”, pursuant to the UAE’s Counter-Terrorism Law and the Munasaha Centre Law, the authorities have extended his detention indefinitely. He suffers from ongoing violations, as he continues to this day to be held arbitrarily.
On July 18, 2023, al-Awois made a final call to his family from within Al Razeen Prison. Since then, his family has not received any communication from him. He is being held incommunicado since that date, with no access or contact with the outside world.
On September 12, 2023, MENA Rights Group requested the urgent intervention of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, calling on them to urge the Emirati authorities to take action to clarify al-Awois’ fate and whereabouts.
