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The United Nations rejects the UAE’s inclusion of 4 human rights activists on the terrorism list

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According to last September’s decision, United Nations experts rejected the UAE regime’s inclusion of four human rights defenders on the government’s terrorism list.

A group of United Nations experts sent a joint letter to the Emirati authorities, asking them to clarify the reasons for including 4 Emirati human rights defenders and activists on the government’s terrorism list.

In a letter sent to Abu Dhabi, the group referred to Hamad Al Shamsi and Mohammed Saqr Al Zaabi as human rights defenders while describing Ahmed Al Shaiba Al Nuaimi and Saeed Nasser Al Tunaiji as activists and academics.

The Letter indicated that Al Shamsi is the executive director of the UAE Detainees Advocacy Center. This non-profit organization defends political detainees and documents and reports on human rights violations, including enforced disappearances.

As for Al Zaabi, he is the former president of the Emirati Jurists Association and a member of the advisory board of ALQST for Human Rights, a member organization of the International Federation for Human Rights.

The Letter added that Al Nuaimi is a writer, educational consultant and head of the International Center for Studies and Development in London. Al Tunaiji is a researcher and president of the Gulf Center for Studies and Dialogue.

The Letter called on the authorities to provide information explaining the reasons for classifying the four human rights defenders as terrorists and clarifying the legal basis and evidence supporting the government’s allegations.

It also called for clarifications on how the use of counter-terrorism measures against human rights defenders is consistent with the commitments of the UAE government to take only counter-terrorism measures that are in full compliance with international law.

The joint Letter by Marie Lawlor, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Luciano Hazan, Chair of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Fionnula Ni Olin, Special Rapporteur on the promotion of and the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism.

These letters are part of the work mechanisms of the United Nations experts. They are directed to the government if there is an allegation of a specific human rights violation to verify these allegations. If the experts confirm this violation or the government does not respond within 60 days, they issue a human rights opinion on the incident.

Abu Dhabi repeats its behavior by emphasizing that decisions related to terrorism are political decisions, as the “Council of Ministers issues them” and not the Attorney General, the Ministry of Justice or the Public Prosecution.

Also, publishing the names without publishing the motives for including them on the terrorist lists confirms the policy of repression. Judicial authorities mention a reasoned indictment when charging anyone, and accusing them of terrorism is the most severe type of accusation.

It is not surprising that Abu Dhabi and the security services use “fighting terrorism” to target activists or organizations that oppose or obstruct its internal and external policies.

The Emirati regime uses the listing on the terrorist list as a means of distortion and political revenge against its opponents to perpetuate repression, intimidation, and silencing of the Emiratis.

International human rights organizations are questioning the way the UAE Cabinet has classified and chosen the “terror list” in light of the policy of targeting any opposition opinion or human rights defender.