We are scholars and students from various disciplines dedicated to protecting the human rights and academic freedom of our colleagues around the world.
Protecting Freedom in Higher Education
Country Profile: United Arab Emirates
The state of human rights in United Arab Emirates continues to deteriorate as authorities have arbitrarily restricted the rights of freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.
On February 10, 2021, a United Nations expert published a report suggesting that Emirati professor and economist Nasser bin Ghaith and two other human rights defenders imprisoned in the United Arab Emirates are being mistreated in conditions that may amount to torture and called for their release. Ghaith’s health is reportedly severely deteriorating, and he is now unable to walk without assistance. The economist, who taught at the Abu Dhabi branch of Paris-Sorbonne University, is serving a 10-year sentence handed down in March 2017 for tweets critical of UAE authorities. During his trial, the Emirati authorities restricted his access to his lawyer, and he was unable to prepare a proper defense. Bin Ghaith is being held at the Al-Razeen maximum security prison in Abu Dhabi, which is home to a number of Emirati dissidents and where he claims to have experienced torture at the hands of officials.
(Last updated: August 30, 2021)
Please send appeals to the following:
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Prime Minister’s Office
PO Box: 212000
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Fax: +971 4 330 404
Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Minister of Interior
Zayed Sport City, Arab Gulf Street, Near to Shaikh Zayed Mosque
PO Box: 398
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Fax: +971 2 402 2762 / +971 2 441 5780
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Al Bateen, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Fax +971 02 444 7766
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