Systematic multifaceted targeting of Emirati exiled dissidents
The Emirati authorities systematically and multifacetedly target exiled Emirati dissidents as part of Abu Dhabi’s dedication to suppressing peaceful opposition.
Between hacking, espionage, inclusion on terrorism lists, and personal targeting through forced deportation, the UAE authorities continue their ongoing campaign against dissidents.
In the latest evidence of this, exiled Emirati dissident Ibrahim Al Harmi complained about continuous attempts by the government to hack and penetrate his personal phone to spy on him.
Regional and international human rights organizations condemned the cross-border repression by the UAE authorities following the extradition of Al Harmi from Jordan weeks ago, which further solidifies the intensity of the regime’s tyranny in Abu Dhabi.
The arrest of Al Harmi (58 years old) by the Jordanian authorities and his subsequent extradition to the UAE have sparked widespread outrage and condemnation within the human rights community. Many international institutions and prominent organizations have quickly issued statements denouncing Amman’s move and calling on Abu Dhabi to ensure his rights.
The United Nations was among the first and most prominent international institutions to respond to Al Harmi’s case. The UN Human Rights Office expressed concern about his mistreatment and urged the UAE to guarantee full respect for his rights, according to the Advocacy for Detainees Rights Center.
The UN Office stated that “the deportation of Al Harmi from Jordan to the UAE raises serious concerns about due legal processes” and called on the Emirati authorities to “immediately release all prisoners held for exercising their right to freedom of expression and association.”
On the level of human rights organizations, the MENA Rights Group condemned the extradition of Al Harmi by the Jordanian authorities and issued an urgent appeal to the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, urging them to intervene with the Jordanian and Emirati authorities to clarify Al Harmi’s fate and whereabouts.
Human Rights Watch also condemned the extradition of Al Harmi, describing his deportation as a circumvention of established extradition procedures in Jordan and a violation of the Jordanian constitution and international law.
In a statement, Human Rights Watch said that Al Harmi faces the same horrifying fate that many other defendants in the “UAE 94” case have suffered, unjustly imprisoned in UAE jails for over a decade.
The organization called on the UAE authorities to disclose Al Harmi’s location and immediately release him, expressing concerns that he may face arbitrary detention, unfair trials, and even torture, given the UAE’s record of violating the rights of defendants in the “UAE 94” case for over a decade.
Amnesty International urged the UAE authorities to protect Al Harmi, who was forcibly deported, from torture and other forms of ill-treatment and to ensure that any retrial he may face complies with international standards of a fair trial.
In a statement, the organization said that Al Harmi’s safety is at stake, considering the UAE’s record of violating the rights of defendants in the “UAE 94” case, and called on the Abu Dhabi authorities to prioritize his safety and allow him immediate access to a lawyer, his family, and any necessary medical care.
Additionally, the Geneva Council for Rights and Freedoms strongly condemned the extradition of Al Harmi by the Jordanian authorities and expressed concern about the grave human rights violations he may face, including arbitrary detention and unfair trials.
