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BEIRUT United Arab Emirates Authorities arbitrarily detained, convicted, and sentenced to long prison terms57 Bengali In the United Arab Emirates, protesters have been subjected to speedy trials for participating in peaceful demonstrations, Human Rights Watch said today. The sentences, which range from 10 years to life in prison, came after an extremely fast-paced judicial process that raises serious concerns about fairness and due process.
On July 19, groups of Bangladeshi citizens living in the UAE held peaceful solidarity protests at various locations across the country, standing in solidarity with the students. Protesters in BangladeshOn July 20, the UAE Attorney General announced an investigation into the protests, and just one day later, the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal convicted and sentenced all 57 defendants.
“It is impossible for the accused to receive a fair trial when the investigation is launched and completed, the trial begins and the verdict is rendered in less than 48 hours,” Joey Shea“These sentences are a travesty of justice, and the UAE authorities should immediately release all those sentenced for supporting peaceful protests.”
The UAE has strict restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly. The country’s penal code completely prohibits protests and demonstrations. violationIt is consistent with both the UAE Constitution and international human rights standards, such as the Arab Charter on Human Rights, to which the UAE is a party.
Human Rights Watch verified six videos of protests posted on TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) on July 19 or in the following days. The videos, shot that evening, show peaceful protesters chanting and marching on streets across the UAE, including in Abu Dhabi, Ajman, and two districts in Dubai: Al Satwa and Downtown Dubai. In these and other videos Human Rights Watch analyzed, no protesters engaged in violent behavior or used language inciting violence in their slogans.
On July 15, violent clashes broke out in Bangladesh as government troops and supporters attacked students. protest Families of veterans who fought for the country’s independence in 1971 have been given a 30% quota in government jobs. More than 150 people have been KilledThousands were injured and dozens were arrested. Bangladeshi expatriate groups also held peaceful demonstrations in other countries to express solidarity.
On July 21, the Abu Dhabi Federal Appeals Court sentenced 53 Bangladeshi citizens to 10 years in prison, one to 11 years in prison, and three to life imprisonment. according to Wakalat Anba’a al Emarat (WAM), the official news agency of the UAE. Courts Orderly The defendant will be deported after serving his sentence and his electronic devices will be confiscated. Such a long sentence appears to have been handed down after only one trial.
According to WAM, the verdict was as follows: based on The charges were related to “calling for demonstrations and inciting riots to put pressure on the government of the country.” The trial followed an investigation that apparently “confirmed (the defendant’s) involvement in public gatherings, inciting riots, disturbing public security and promoting such gatherings and protests, including recording and disseminating online audiovisual clips of these acts.” The Public Prosecution Service seek The defendants will face “maximum penalties.” The statement mentioned that all defendants are represented by only one court-appointed defense attorney.
On July 20, UAE Attorney General Hamad Al Shamsi Announce An investigation was launched against Bangladeshi citizens who “gathered in various streets in the UAE and incited riots.” On July 21, the Abu Dhabi court heard the case, pronounced convictions and sentenced them within 24 hours.
The UAE has a total ban on protests and demonstrations. Article 212 of the 2021 Penal Code supply Anyone who calls for, promotes or leads a gathering in a public place “with the intention of creating a riot, preventing or undermining the implementation of laws and regulations, or disturbing public security, even if his call is not accepted” will be sentenced to life imprisonment. Section 26 of the National Cybercrime Law 2021 conviction Using the Internet to “plan, organize, promote or advocate demonstrations, marches and other activities without the permission of the competent authorities.”
Human Rights Watch said the speed with which dozens of defendants were investigated, tried and convicted raised serious concerns about the fairness of the judicial process and amounted to an unfair trial.
A video posted on TikTok on July 21 was filmed near the Dubai Mall in downtown Dubai and shows hundreds, if not thousands, of protesters gathered in the streets, chanting slogans in favor of Bangladeshi students. Another video analyzed and verified by Human Rights Watch shows protesters chanting slogans as they march through the streets of Al Satwa in Dubai, carrying Bangladeshi flags and banners, including one that read “Bangladesh Students.”
The videos were all shot at night. In one video shot in Ajman, a protester’s watch showed the time as 9:15 p.m. In another video shot in Al Satwa, Dubai, the moon hangs low over the Dubai skyline and was posted to TikTok at 7:36 p.m. local time, which matches the approximate time it was posted online. Three of the videos verified by Human Rights Watch have been deleted or made private.
UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed made a statement on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on July 21 explain “The UAE is home to more than 200 nationalities living in harmony, all of whom contribute to the continued development of our country. Security is the cornerstone of our society and we encourage all who call the UAE home to uphold the principles of peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding.”
in a statement “Any kind of gathering, procession or chanting of slogans, engaging in any activity that may cause unrest, panic or confusion in the minds of the public, spreading rumours/propaganda, recording videos or posting any such information/pictures/videos on social media are strictly prohibited,” the Bangladesh Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Bangladesh Consulate General in Dubai told government-backed news agency Gulf Times. continue“If engaged in such activities, those involved may face harsher penalties, including visa cancellation, imprisonment, fines, deportation and future entry bans.”
Human Rights Watch said Bangladeshi authorities, particularly the UAE Embassy, should call on UAE authorities to release the 57 Bangladeshis who have been detained.
The UAE relies heavily on more than 1 million migrant workers from Bangladesh, which makes up the third largest proportion of the foreign population. According to government statistics, more than 100,000 Bangladeshis went to the UAE for employment in 2022 alone.
Migrant workers in the UAE are subject to severe labor abuses such as wage theft, excessive recruitment fees, restrictions on job mobility, and passport confiscation. Abuses in the UAE Kafara The (visa sponsorship) system is at the root of these abuses as it ties migrant workers’ visas to their employers. Recruitment fees, while illegal, remain a pervasive aspect of recruitment practices in the UAE, which has failed to effectively restrict such practices.
Migrant workers in the UAE from climate-vulnerable countries such as Bangladesh exposed Climate risks are escalating, especially when working in the UAE’s extreme heat without adequate protection.
Workers were unable to protest these horrible working conditions because Kafara Human Rights Watch said people were being unfairly criminalized for peacefully protesting for causes unrelated to the UAE because of violations of the UAE system, bans on trade unions, and restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly.
Over the past decade, the UAE government’s sustained violations of rights and freedoms have resulted in a complete closure of civic space, severe restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly online and offline, and the criminalization of peaceful dissent.
“The UAE claims to uphold the principles of tolerance, peaceful coexistence and understanding, but its arbitrary detention and sentencing of residents to life in prison for peaceful protests demonstrates a grave violation of these principles,” Shay said.
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