The Gulf Centre for Human Rights Statement

UAE: The UAE Authorities Should Repeal Withdrawal of Nationality of 6 Reform Advocates

Beirut, 29 December, 2011 – The Gulf Centre for Human Rights expresses deep concern over the decision issued by the authorities in the United Arab Emirates to withdraw nationality from six advocates of reform who are:

1. Sheikh Mohammad Abdul Razak Al-Sediq / Member of the International Union of Muslim Scholars
2. Dr. Ali Hussain Al-Hammadi / Chairman of the Center for Creative Thinking
3. Dr. Shahin Abdullah Al-Haosni / Expert of Libraries and Information
4. Mr. Hussein Munif Al-Jabri / Academic and Educational Expert     
5. Mr. Hassan Munif Al-Jabri / Founder and an Expert in Charity Work
6. Mr. Ibrahim Hassan Al-Marzouqi / Learning and Educational Professor 

 This decision explicitly contradicts Article 15 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
which states:

1. Everyone has the right to a nationality.
2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality.

 Also, the ruling is not in line with the content of Article 2 of the Declaration,
which states that: ”Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.”
 The repressive natures of the decision to withdraw the nationalities has invalidated the legal entitlements of the 6 law-abiding citizens and strongly contradict the content of Article 6 of the above-mentioned Declaration, which confirmed that:  “Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.”
The decree to withdraw their nationality has been described by the 6 advocates of reform
in a statement they issued on December 20, 2011 as: Invasive procedure, illegal and contrary to basic human rights, the Constitution and law of the State.
 Mr. Nabeel Rajab, director of the Gulf Centre for Human Rights said “this decree is a continuation of the trend of targeting activists by the government of the UAE.” He added “the UAE government should comply with the human rights treaties and stop its repressive procedures against all activists immediately.”
The Gulf Centre for Human Rights strongly believes that this unfair ruling is linked to the fact that the six advocates of reforms are members of the “Association of Reform and Social Guidance” whose board of director was dissolved, where the members brought a case to the competent courts to consider lifting the ban on them. Also, the Centre believes that this illegal ruling is linked to the signing by some of them to the reform petition, directed at the UAE Head of State in March 2011, which called for reforms in the legislature, through a proper election of the National Council and to allow it to perform its role and powers in full.
The Gulf Centre for Human Rights calls on the UAE government to revoke this unjust decision immediately, and re-recognize the full legal entitlements of the six reform advocates.  
 Please write immediately in English or in Arabic:

• To urge the authorities in the UAE to revoke this unjust decree immediately and unconditionally;
• To express your refusal to the severe suppression of the legitimate people’s rights, in particular the activists, such as freedom of expression, assembly, and association by the UAE authorities despite their claim to have the desire to build a modern state.

 Please Send Appeals now To:
 Vice-President and Prime Minister
H.H. Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum
 Office of the Prime Minister:
POB 2838, Dubai, UAE
Fax: +971 4 3531974
E-mail: info@primeministre.ae
 
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior
H.H. Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan
Minister of Interior, Human Rights Directorate
POB 398, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Fax: +971 2 4414938  

 Minister of Foreign Affairs
H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahya
POB 1, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Fax: +971 2 4447766
 
Minister of Justice
His Excellency Dr. Hadef Jawa'an Al Dhaheri
Minister of Justice
POB 753, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Email: moj@uae.gov.ae
Fax: +971 2 681 5155
 
For more information, please contact:
 Bahrain:  Nabeel Rajab (Arabic and English)                        +973-396-333-99
Lebanon: Khalid Ibrahim (Arabic and English)                     +961-701-595-52
 

 The Gulf Centre for Human Rights is an independent centre and has been registered in Ireland. The Centre works to strengthen support for human rights defenders and independent journalists in Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.