Activists in the United Arab Emirates to Face Trial for Insulting Rulers
Five activists plead not guilty in an Abu Dhabi trial after criticizing the United Arab Emirates’ government leadership. The five activists: Ahmed Mansour, Nasser bin Ghaith, Fahad Salem Dalk, Hassan Ali al-Khamis and Ahmed Abdul Khaleq signed an online petition calling on United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Khalifa to introduce “direct elections” and give parliament legislative powers, in an effort to promote political and economic reform.
Citizens have few political freedoms in the UAE, since the country is not an electoral democracy. All decisions about political leadership –including the appointment of government leadership-are made by the rulers of the Federal Supreme Council. There are no political parties, and while the constitution does allow freedom of expression, the government restricts it, along with freedom of assembly and association. In July 2010 authorities arrested citizens for using Blackberry phones to plan a protest against rising gas prices, and nearly restricted access across the country to Blackberry networks. In recent months, the government has cracked down and made arrests at pro-democracy protests.
Freedom House urges the UAE to drop all charges against the five activists and calls on the UAE leadership to respect the right to freedom of speech and expression.
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Citizens have few political freedoms in the UAE, since the country is not an electoral democracy. All decisions about political leadership –including the appointment of government leadership-are made by the rulers of the Federal Supreme Council. There are no political parties, and while the constitution does allow freedom of expression, the government restricts it, along with freedom of assembly and association. In July 2010 authorities arrested citizens for using Blackberry phones to plan a protest against rising gas prices, and nearly restricted access across the country to Blackberry networks. In recent months, the government has cracked down and made arrests at pro-democracy protests.
Freedom House urges the UAE to drop all charges against the five activists and calls on the UAE leadership to respect the right to freedom of speech and expression.
Learn more:
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