Abu Dhabi Federal Appeals Court convicts at least 44 defendants following mass trial

Association

At the sentencing hearing during a mass trial of at least 84 human rights defenders and political dissidents, the Abu Dhabi Federal Appeals Court convicted at least 44 defendants in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following a fundamentally unfair trial, handing down sentences ranging from between 15 years to life in prison in the UAE’s second largest unfair mass trial.

Among the 44 defendants whose conviction is known, four people were sentenced to 15 years in prison and 40 to life in prison, according to EDAC, a human rights organisation supporting imprisoned human rights defenders in the UAE. Three of those sentenced to life in prison are academic Dr. Nasser Bin Ghaith, Abdulsalam Darwish Al-Marzouqi and Sultan Bin Kayed Al-Qasimi. At least one defendant was acquitted. The verdicts for many of the defendants are not yet known as the authorities have yet to release official details about the convictions and sentences.

The new mass trial began on 7th December 2023, on charges of establishing a “terrorist organisation” and supporting and funding this organisation. The new fabricated terrorism charges against the 84 Emiratis include over 60 activists belonging to the “UAE94” who are being held in prison past the end of their sentences, as previously documented on the Monitor, as well as GCHR’s Board member Ahmed Mansoor, and academic Dr. Nasser Bin Ghaith.

In December 2023, while hosting the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), Emirati authorities brought charges against at least 84 defendants who had formed an independent advocacy group in 2010, many of whom had already been serving prison sentences for the same or similar offences. The unfair mass trial was marred by serious due process and fair trial violations, including restricted access to case material and information, limited legal assistance, a ban on media in the courtroom, judges directing witness testimony, violations of the principle of double jeopardy, credible allegations of serious abuse and ill-treatment, and hearings shrouded in secrecy. These violations are detailed in a report by GCHR and EDAC entitled “Unfair Trial in the United Arab Emirates Illustrates Total Disregard for International Law”, published ahead of the verdict.

The tenth hearing took place on 9th May 2024 before the Federal Appeal Court in Abu Dhabi to hear the case for the defence. Representing himself, human rights defender and prisoner of conscience Ahmed Mansoor stated that what the prosecution described as criminal acts was simply the detainees exercising their right to freedom of expression. Mohammed al-Roken pointed out that the defendants were being tried on charges for which they had already been convicted in 2013. Other defendants described the deterioration of their physical and mental health due to the prison conditions. Defendants explained to the court that they had been forced to listen to very loud music throughout the day and especially during their rest and sleep periods. They described being interrogated and having their ‘confessions’ filmed. If they refused, they would then be punished with solitary confinement. The defendants continue to be deprived of contact with their families or lawyers.

Commenting on an April hearing of this trial on 29th April 2024, Human Rights Watch reported that the Emirati authorities were holding an unfair mass trial with serious due process problems, including many defendants being held in prolonged solitary confinement. Human Rights Watch raised further concerns about restricted access to case material and information, limited legal assistance, judges directing witness testimony, violations of the principle of double jeopardy, credible allegations of serious abuse and ill-treatment, and hearings shrouded in secrecy.

The Emirates Detainees Advocacy Center (EDAC), Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR), Human Rights Watch, International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) and MENA Rights Group condemned the mass trial and called for the release of all the defendants.