International Islamic Federation of Student Organizations (IIFSO) Statement

An urgent appeal regarding the withdrawal of nationalities of some UAE reforming scholars and preachers

We, in the International Islamic Federation of Student Organizations (IIFSO), received with great dismay and concern the media reports about the withdrawal of national citizenships from a number of Emirati public figures, scholars, preachers and reform advocates by the government of the United Arab Emirates.

We then shared a thought with many observers that there is something wrong either in the news itself or a hasty bureaucratic action by state employees has been already taken and would be corrected soon. We, and some human rights organizations and freemen worldwide, waited a formal denial to the news or that bureaucratic error being corrected, but nothing happened until the release of this statement and therefore we direct this letter to the following:

• Firstly, we appeal His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, to quickly intervene to stop this offensive action which tarnishes primarily the reputation of the United Arab Emirates in the international community. We, all, cannot accept any abuse to this decent country and rulers whom we respect.  Thereupon, we hope the official and legal positions to be consistent with the good fabric of Emirati community, not to mention this nation’s best sons of the reform advocates who promoted the love of this country to us and others.

• Secondly, to human rights institutions in the world to shoulder their responsibilities and activate their legal instruments for the treatment of this human tragedy. In the time the winds of freedom and the Arab spring flooding the Arab region, we have been surprised with decision taken in contrary to the international laws and norms against a group of reformists and thinkers on the background of their demands for reforming state institutions.

• Thirdly, to all States and international institutions: We urge you as an international federation, representing millions of students and youth around the world, to intervene to lift the injustice done to the advocates of reform. The modern states and effective institutions should be more practically faithful to the banners of freedom, democracy and human rights which they lift everywhere.

• Fourthly, to all youth institutions and student unions in the world: The least we should do at this point is to promote the fairness of this cause and to work institutionally and individually in calling out the elites, opinion makers and human rights and civil society institutions in the world to assume their responsibility to end the injustice against those advocates of reform and their families; with an emphasis in all our requests to respect the leadership and people of UAE along with strong condemnation and denunciation of this tyrannical procedure.

• And finally, to this constellation of thinkers and opinion who have been exposed to this unjust procedure: we would take the same position with you with the same enthusiasm even if you are not callers for reform because we treat on humanitarian background. What you face now is a cheap price compared to the great roles you exert to educate and support your fellow citizens in UAE as well as the Arabs and Muslims everywhere; and your positive fingerprints in the Islamic centers worldwide are the best proofs for that. If the decision-maker were fair, they would give you the Medal of Honor of the first class which is considered a normal reward for those who raise the flags of the homeland and religion in all forums ... But Allah, the Judge and the Justice, is above all rewarding everyone by what he deserves.

Be more patient and tolerant.... along with every hardship is relief, Verily, along with hardship is relief

Istanbul - December 31, 2011 AC

International Islamic Federation of Student Organizations (IIFSO)

• The men who have been stripped of nationalities are as following:

1. Sheikh Mohammad Abdul Razak Al-Sediq / Member of the International Union for 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. Ahmed Ghaith Al-Suwaidi/ Educational Expert

• Some human rights international conventions which are contravened by the decree:

1. "State shouldn’t withdraw the national citizenship of any person, unless the person concerned possesses or acquires the nationality of another country." Article VII of the 1954 United Nations Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons

"The Signatory country shouldn’t use the authority of withdrawing citizenships but by the rule of the law, which guarantees the person concerned the right to a fair trial before an independent judiciary or any other body." Article VIII of the 1954 United Nations Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons