Behind the dazzling towers, political stability, and laws that seem to have been passed to achieve freedom, the image of human rights in the UAE is extremely bleak.
The United Arab Emirates, which presents itself as a progressive civil state in a region full of tensions and conflicts, ignores the demands of its people, and those who express their views and opinions are subjected to torture. The political trials are brutal, in addition to the gross violation of their rights in prisons.
Recently released Saudi political activist Loujain al-Hathloul has said, she complained against UAE for spying on her and illegally seizing her car. Al-Hazloul’s complaint against the UAE dates back to her arrest in 2018, after which the UAE authorities extradited her to Saudi Arabia.
The UN expert team has previously stated that the UAE violated her rights by extraditing Loujain al-Hathloul to Saudi Arabia, UAE government cannot abdicate its responsibility to facilitate the persecution of Loujain al-Hathloul.
In addition, Emirati officials are widely involved in espionage operations against the opposition. The UAE Lex said that the cooperation agreement between the G42 technology company in Abu Dhabi and the occupying regime’s Rafael defense systems company is in fact one of the UAE’s actions to strengthen its espionage capabilities.
The UAE Federal Council, in an effort to cover up human rights violations following the condemnation of the United Nations and human rights bodies, has passed a law establishing a National Human Rights Council.
Observers, however, believe that the United Arab Emirates’ asylum in establishing such a body is due to repeated condemnations by international institutions and should release detainees “thought” and guarantee the freedoms of citizens and residents, rather than a formal delegation to Establish mere media exploitation.
Reporters Without Borders stressed in 2021 that UAE has become an expert in spying on journalists and targeting them in an organized manner.
But the most obvious issue in the UAE human rights case is the case of Princess Latifa, the daughter of the ruler of Dubai. UN human rights experts issued a joint statement expressing concern that the UAE did not provide tangible information about Princess Latifa. They stressed that Latifa’s solitary confinement could have irreparable physical and psychological consequences.
Despite the alleged reforms announced by the UAE from time to time, the situation of human rights defenders in the country has not improved and is in fact deteriorating. Many critics of the government are in a state of panic, and the conditions of their detention are in violation of international law. Some members of the European Parliament have signed a petition calling for the Emirati government to be held accountable for continuing human rights violations.
