"The United Arab Emirates’
crackdown on dissent has included the arrest and harassment of leading
defense lawyers, making it nearly impossible for detained peaceful
dissidents to get access to a lawyer, Human Rights Watch said today. The
actions against the lawyers would make fair trials for detained
dissidents impossible, Human Rights Watch said.
Since March 2012, the UAE has detained 51 men, including two prominent human rights lawyers, claiming that peaceful calls for reform threaten national security. With the latest arrests, authorities have compounded their disregard for free expression and free association by attempting to deny detainees legal assistance, an essential component of their right to a fair trial as well as the right of all detainees, Human Rights Watch said. Lawyers employed by the only Emirati law firm currently offering legal assistance to the detainees have been arrested, deported, and intimidated.
“By extending its crackdown against peaceful critics to include lawyers, the UAE is making even the basic rule of law impossible,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “The countries that provide the UAE with security assistance and businesses and institutions with close ties to the country should take note.”" As I was reading, I expected Human Rights Watch to blame the Syrian regime for the repression in UAE. Also, notice that the language that HRW uses on Syria is unlike its language on all other Middle East countries.
Since March 2012, the UAE has detained 51 men, including two prominent human rights lawyers, claiming that peaceful calls for reform threaten national security. With the latest arrests, authorities have compounded their disregard for free expression and free association by attempting to deny detainees legal assistance, an essential component of their right to a fair trial as well as the right of all detainees, Human Rights Watch said. Lawyers employed by the only Emirati law firm currently offering legal assistance to the detainees have been arrested, deported, and intimidated.
“By extending its crackdown against peaceful critics to include lawyers, the UAE is making even the basic rule of law impossible,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “The countries that provide the UAE with security assistance and businesses and institutions with close ties to the country should take note.”" As I was reading, I expected Human Rights Watch to blame the Syrian regime for the repression in UAE. Also, notice that the language that HRW uses on Syria is unlike its language on all other Middle East countries.
