UAE puts 11 political dissidents on its terrorist list
A total of 11 political dissidents and their family members have been designated as terrorists by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Middle East Eye reported on April 22nd.
In January, the UAE declared that it was placing 11 people and eight companies on its terrorism list for their purported associations with the Muslim Brotherhood.
According to Middle East Monitor on April 23rd, the rights organization, Human Rights Watch, stated the UAE’s action marks an “escalation” of its “transnational repression.”
Because it targets the dissidents but also their relatives, it widens the scope of punishment. “This reflects the country’s indiscriminate use of overbroad counterterrorism laws and contempt for due process,” Human Rights Watch (HRW) added.
HRW also said: “The designation also criminalises communication with designated ‘terrorists’ and imposes penalties up to life in prison. This isolates designated individuals further, leaving UAE-based relatives vulnerable to long prison terms for merely communicating with them.”
In a statement, the rights organisation also said that the individuals and entities were not given any chance to respond or challenge the accusations they faced.
One of the individuals told HRW that their designation came as “a real shock” and that it was “very difficult.” Another stated he was “surprised that our names just appeared on the terrorism case” since there was “no case, no judge’s decision.”
Joey Shea, UAE researcher for Human Rights Watch, said: “Emirati authorities are abusing a vague terrorism law to smear and ostracise dissidents . . . ”
Shea added: “They should immediately reverse these insidious designations and cease cracking down on peaceful expression.”
Similarly, HRW said: “The authorities [in Abu Dhabi] should immediately remove the terrorism designations, the UK should defend the businesses, all of them registered there.”
In 2014, the UAE identified 83 groups as “terrorists.” HRW stated the UAE’s 2014 anti-terrorism law employs an “overly broad definition of terrorism.” They added that the law enables the government to label individuals and organizations as terrorists. Such designations occur “without any corresponding legal requirement to demonstrate the objective basis of the claim,” according to HRW.
The UAE’s designation of dissidents as terrorists reflects repressive tactics. Meanwhile, Sudan told the International Court of Justice that the UAE is the “driving force” behind Darfur’s genocide, Al-Monitor reported on April 10th.
The UAE denied these accusations, calling Sudan’s case “political theatre” that diverts attention from tackling the conflict. Additionally, the UAE also called for the court to dismiss the case and remove it from its docket.
Human Rights Watch, Middle East Eye, Middle East Monitor, Al-Monitor
