UAE: Arrest and on-going detention of human rights defender Sheikh Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of Islah

UAE: Arrest and on-going detention of human rights defender Sheikh Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi, the Chairman of Islah
24 April, 2012 – Gulf Center for Human Rights

Beirut, 24 April, 2012 — The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) has received information that on 20 April 2012, human rights defender Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Kayed Al-Qasimi was arrested by security authorities in Ras Al Khahima. He is the Chairman of the Society of Reform and Social Guidance (Islah Association), an organization which advocates for reform and whose board of directors was dissolved by the authorities. He is also the cousin of the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.

Sheikh Dr. Sultan Al-Qasimi was reportedly arrested without a warrant and brought to the Governor’s Palace where he is being held in solitary confinement. There is a possibility that he will be transferred to Abu Dhabi.

His arrest comes in the context of the targeting of members of the Islah Association by the authorities in the UAE and is believed to be related to his position of Chairman of the association. Over the past four months many members of the Islah Association were stripped of their citizenship and were subsequently arrested for being in the UAE “illegally” as a result.

On 26 March 2012, Dr. Ahmed Yousef Al-Zaabie, another member of the Islah association was arrested. He was released on bail last Tuesday 17 April 2012 despite a court order calling for his release on 15 April 2012. However, according to information received, he has been kidnapped by the security forces and his family remains unaware of his whereabouts and it is suspected that he has been transferred into the custody of the State Security Apparatus.

Mr. Nabeel Rajab, director of the Gulf Centre for Human Rights said: “Human rights defenders who have been arrested recently in UAE find themselves trapped in a security system that abuses their civil and human rights on daily basis.” He added: “The UAE is failing to meet its responsibilities to protect human rights defenders.”

The GCHR believes that the arrest and on-going detention of Sheikh Dr. Sultan Al-Qasimi is directly related to his human rights activities and the legitimate exercise of his right to freedom of association and expression. …more