Freedom House Condemns Shutdown of Civil Society Groups in Dubai

Freedom House condemns the raid and closing of the Dubai offices of several civil society organizations, including the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the German-based Konrad Adenauer Foundation, both of which promote democracy and human rights.  The organizations were raided by Dubai authorities and shut down with no explanation.  The crackdown comes on the heels of strikingly similar events in Egypt in December 2011, which resulted in spurious criminal charges against local and international civil society organizations. Moreover, it comes only days after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton waived legislation which would have prevented  $1.3 billion in military aid to Egypt, despite its failure to drop the charges. 

The move by the UAE is a worrisome sign that Egypt’s ability to crack down on civil society without suffering consequences may have emboldened other authoritarian governments to strike out against democracy advocates.  The UAE is rated Not Free in Freedom in the World 2011 and Freedom of the Press 2011.

Learn More:

Freedom in the World 2011: United Arab Emirates

Freedom of the Press 2011: United Arab Emirates