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.

Sit-in opposite London UAE embassy counteracting restriction of public freedoms in UAE

Sit-in opposite London UAE embassy counteracting restriction of public freedoms in UAE

Express News
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
London – QudsPress

Emirati and Arab students organized on Wednesday 8/2/2012 a protest in front of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the British capital, London, remonstrating the "restrictions enforced on public freedoms in the UAE," and denunciating the act by UAE authorities stripping seven Emirati citizens of their nationalities, on the background of their demands for reform .
The protestors called upon the UAE authorities "to repeal the decisions recently taken for restricting public freedoms and violating human rights as well as infringing the human dignity; that are absolutely embodied in the confiscation of most of the working non-profit organizations and changing their elected boards of directors and putting them all under the guardianship of the authorities". The protestors drew the attention to the fact that these decisions harmed a number of associations, including teachers and bar associations along with the Association of Reform and Social Guidance, Student Union, New Muslim Care Society, Social Guidance Association and Fishermen's Association added to some Qur’anic institutes and other student organizations.
The protestors distributed publications to the public in which they figured out that their protest in front of the embassy also for denunciating the UAE authorities’ decision to strip seven UAE citizens of their nationalities, arguing that "this exposes them and their families to the most inhuman punishments, i.e., stripping of identity."
They elaborated that stripping the seven citizens of their nationalities was accompanied by a freeze on all things related to their circles of interests, and periling the interests of their families and children under the same decree. Added to their passion due to this decision, they cannot work in the public and private sectors, all their salaries and real-estate properties frozen, and commercial licenses, identity cards, driving licenses, medical treatment cards and passports have been all withdrawn along with other papers. Worth mentioning, all these episodes of tragedy happened on the background of a petition filed by Emirati elite to the President of the UAE in the past year calling for a fully-fledged national assembly."
The student protesters affirmed they will continue in their protest in front of the UAE embassy in London, while the option of expanding these protests will be on board, "unless the UAE authorities decline their decisions, and rehabilitate all those affected by these draconian decisions," they said.
Vienna-based “Friends of Humanity International” has earlier considered the decision removing the UAE citizenship from six Emirati citizens, "of the UAE most public figures known for their reformative attitudes" an illegal step involving "a gross violation of international human rights covenants."
Whereas the Istanbul-based International Islamic Federation of Student Organizations (IIFSO) expressed its serious concern regarding the decision of the UAE authorities to withdraw citizenships from six public figures, appealing the UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan for rapid intervention to resolve that injustice done against those " prominent thinkers, reform advocates and leaders of opinion," adding that a "human injustice" such that would tarnish the reputation of the UAE.

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:

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 

Sawaseya Centre for Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Statement

Sawaseya: Nationality Withdrawal from 6 UAE Citizens Contravenes Global Conventions and Treaties

Sawaseya Centre for Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination expresses its deep surprise regarding the extreme decision of the UAE authorities to strip 6 Emirati citizens from their national citizenships. Those men are as follows: Hussein Munif Abdullah Hassan Al Jabri, Hassan Munif Abdullah Hassan Al Jabri, Ibrahim Hassan Ali Hassan Al Marzouqi, Shaheen Abdullah Mal-Allah Haidar Al Hosni , Ali Hussein Ahmed Ali Al Hammadi, and Mohamed Abdul-Raziq Mohammad Siddiq Al-Obaidli. The UAE government claimed that they represent a threat to the national security, as well as accusing them of having close links to regional and international organizations and figures who are included in the UN lists of Combating the Financing of Terrorism; punishing activists demanding political reform in their country in this way is considered as a rare and never-witnessed step in the Arab world for five decades ago.

Friends of Humanity International Organization Statement

Withdrawing Citizenship from UAE citizens…

a big violation to be repealed

The government of the United Arab Emirates has withdrawn the citizenships of six Emirati citizens who are public figures in their homeland striving for better reforms. Depriving these citizens from their civil rights of citizenship is being considered an unprecedented step and an aggressive violation to the UAE commitments in the domain of human rights.   

Since Friends of Humanity International Organization totally condemns this decision, it confirms that such decision is unauthorized or legalized locally or globally as it contradicts with the commitments of human and civil rights that can never been justified.

The "Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe" Statement

Withdrawal of the citizenship of UAE figures…

a surprising step requires revisit

The "Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe" received with great surprise the reports around the withdrawal of citizenship of six public figures in the United Arab Emirates.

We were actually shocked because these public figures are known with good reputation, eminent social status and high respect within the UAE and abroad. Those men are symbols of the rising UAE society, and from the Emirati intellectual elite whose national and humanitarian positions are indisputable along with their prominence in scientific, academic and educational aspects and in social service as a whole that is already decided. Those pioneers, have been actually known within the ranks of the best delegates for the UAE and its people wherever they in the world, due to their cultural and social appearances.

The Arab Youth Association in Europe Statement

H.E. The Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Britain, Mr. Abdul-Rahman Ghanem Al Mutaiwee….

    The Arab Youth Association in Europe Would like to express its deep regret and concern regarding the decisions taken by Your government which are all contrary to entire global norms and conventions that preserve human right of expression and calling for reform as well as protect the right of citizenship and work and keeping all of these rights untouched or being threaten..