The Association of Sunni scholars

The Association of Sunni scholars received news on the withdrawal of the citizenship of a number of advocates of reform in the United Arab Emirates, as various rights groups did, with much sorrow and condemnation. The charges of the inflicted citizens are all about their affiliation to the UAE Society of Reform and Social Guidance, as well as some of them co-signed a petition raised to the head of state calling for reforms in the legislature of the state, so that to engineer democratic elections for the national Council, and to assume its role with full powers. Publicly, they have been accused that they represent a threat to the national security of the United Arab Emirates, as well as charged of association with "suspicious" organizations and personalities on the regional and international levels, and links to some suspicious organizations and associations included in the United Nations lists of combating the financing of terrorism; added to other indictment panels.

Those UAE Citizens are as follows:

1. Sheikh Muhammad Abdul-Raziq As-Siddiq, member of the International Union of Muslim Scholars
2. Dr. Ali Hussain Al Hammadi, president of the Center of Creative Thinking
3. Dr. Shahin Abdullah Al Hosni, expert in library and information sciences
4. Mr. Hussein Munif Al Jabri, pedagogical and educational expert
5. Mr. Hassan Munif Al Jabri, founder and an expert in charities
6. Mr. Ibrahim Hassan Al-Marzouqi, teacher and pedagogue
7. Mr. Ahmed Ghaith Al-Suwaidi, educational expert

We advice the rulers of the UAE, based on the prophetic teachings on conveying advice, to repeal this arbitrary procedure in any way, and to apologize to the people of the UAE and the whole world for this procedure; which contradicts with the most basic human rights and globally-accepted covenants. Fair legal proceedings would be an inevitable option. At a time the scholars are trying to promote the values ​​of Islam in the communities, including: the values ​​of citizenship and patriotism, which comes synchronous with procedures by other countries for merging and melting residents with citizens everywhere, this action stood in sharp contrast with the efforts of scholars and preachers, ultimately vying the teachings of Islam and its values, and extremely challenging the charters and covenants of human rights in the whole world.

We want to put before the eyes of the Emirates rulers the fact that this unjust procedure is not in favor of the UAE itself, especially in the Arab spring climate that has become close to each unjust or oppressive regime. So, no tyrant or despot should feel isolated away from the atmosphere of this spring.

We also warn the rulers of the emirates from the bad corrupt advisers, who want to bring evil to the country, raise a case of disorder in it, turning the facts upside down, make enemies for the state at home and abroad, and export a bad image on the Arabs and Muslims in the West. We remind them with the words of Allah, the Almighty: 'O believers! Do not make strangers as your confidants; they leave no stone unturned in harming you. They yearn for what distresses you: Hostility appeared from their utterances and what they have concealed in their breasts is yet greater. We have made you hear Our signs clearly, if you have wisdom. [Al-Imran: 118]

Given the condemnation of the Association of Sunni scholars against this action, the association calls the rulers and high-ranked officials of the UAE, headed by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister, and others, to raise the injustice happened against those men, keep back everything to its normal position, and engage in an open dialogue with all the currents of society. This time is no longer a time for excluding a thought or issuing judgment based on an affiliation. The truth is very old as the universe is, and re-tracking the right is better than persisting on falsehood. Allah is over all things Competent, but most of the people do not know.

President of the Association: Dr. Ahmad Al-Raissouny

Secretary-General of the Association: Dr. Safwat Hijazi