News - Yemen: The annual report of the international human rights organization “Human Rights Watch” criticized the UAE’s involvement in the war on Yemen, pointing out that the United States provided logistical assistance and intelligence support to the coalition forces led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

The report indicated that there was an internal report issued by the “Office of Government Accountability” in the United States, which revealed serious loopholes in the US government’s oversight of how the weapons sold to Saudi Arabia and the UAE are used.

The report issued by the organization also touches on the human rights situation in the UAE during the past year, and stresses that the UAE is expanding its monitoring capabilities against dissidents and stepping up its campaigns to pursue and arrest them.

The report began, "The UAE continued to wage an alarming campaign of repression and censorship against dissidents, and expanded its capabilities in the field of surveillance, whether on the Internet or through drones in public places."

The report notes that dozens of activists, academics, and lawyers have served lengthy sentences in Emirati prisons after unfair trials on vague and broad charges that violate their right to freedom of expression and association.

In its report, the organization indicated that the prominent Emirati human rights activist, Ahmed Mansour, has been imprisoned in solitary confinement for the sixth year, and revealed grave violations of his rights that showed the absolute powers of the State Security Apparatus to commit violations.

In July 2021, a private letter written by “Mansoor” was leaked to regional media detailing his mistreatment while in detention, renewing concern about his safety and possible reprisals against him.

An informed source stated that after the letter was published, the authorities retaliated by transferring Mansour to a smaller, more isolated cell, denying him access to necessary medical care, and confiscating his reading glasses.

The report also referred to the prominent academic, “Nasser bin Ghaith,” who is serving 10 years in prison on charges stemming from his criticism of the Emirati and Egyptian authorities, and the academic and human rights lawyer, “Mohammed Al-Roken,” who is serving 10 years in prison, along with 68 other people, following his conviction in a group trial. “UAE 94” is very unfair, they are also still in prison.

Many of the convicts in the (UAE 94) trial are still being held despite completing their sentences.
The report pointed out that the authorities released the British citizen, “Michael Brian Smith”, for health reasons, in October 2021, after he spent more than 10 years in prison, despite his pardon in 2014.
The authorities denied “Smith” and other prisoners living with HIV regular and uninterrupted access to essential medications and adequate health care throughout his detention.

In late 2021, the authorities classified 4 exiled dissidents by choice from the (UAE 94) group, namely: “Hamad Al Shamsi,” “Mohammed Saqr Al Zaabi,” “Ahmed Al Shaiba Al Nuaimi,” and “Saeed Al Tunaiji,” as “terrorists” under The country's vague and arbitrary anti-terrorism law.
The report pointed out that the classification immediately led to the freezing of their assets, the confiscation of their property, and the criminalization of contacts with them by their relatives residing in the Emirates.

On a similar note, and according to “Rights Watch”, the UAE uses some of the most advanced surveillance technologies in the world to monitor public places, online activity, and even individuals’ phones and computers, in violation of their right to privacy, freedom of expression, association, and other rights.

The report added: “The authorities also subject websites, blogs, chat rooms and social media platforms to severe censorship and restriction, and impose censorship and ban content on the Internet that it deems critical of the UAE’s rulers, government, policies and any topic, whether social or political, that the authorities may consider sensitive.”
The report pointed out that the December 2021 amendments to the “Crimes and Penalties Law” and “The Rumors and Cybercrime Law” have reduced the space for opposition.

The report quoted the Associated Press as saying that during the Expo 2020, officials repeatedly tried to force visiting journalists to sign documents indicating that they could face criminal prosecution for not following the instructions of officials at the site.

On the sponsorship system, Rights Watch criticized the restriction of visas for migrant workers to their employers, and preventing them from changing employers or leaving them without permission.

The report added: “Those who left their employers without permission faced punishment for absconding, including fines, arrest, detention, and deportation, all without any due process guarantees. Many low-paid migrant workers have been subjected to forced labour.

The report pointed out that research conducted by the “Equidem” company documented forced labor practices, illegal recruitment fees, withholding wages and benefits, and lack of access to grievance mechanisms for the majority of migrant workers participating in “Expo 2020” projects.
He also pointed to what domestic workers are exposed to, who face a range of violations, through the Labor Law, which does not meet international standards.