A court in the United Arab Emirates has handed life sentences to 43 activists after finding them guilty of terror offences, sparking outrage from human rights groups and experts.
The Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal convicted the defendants of “creating a terrorist organisation,” according to state media. The group, known as the “UAE 84,” included human rights defenders and political dissidents who were put on trial for allegedly establishing a clandestine organization called the “Justice and Dignity Committee.”
Most of the defendants were said to be members of the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist movement banned in the UAE since 2014. The court sentenced 43 defendants to life imprisonment for creating and managing a terrorist organization, while 10 others received 10 to 15 years in prison for cooperating with the banned al-Islah party and money laundering.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have criticized the trial, with Amnesty International calling it a “shameless parody of justice.” The organizations highlighted the lack of transparency in the legal proceedings, as details of the indictment, charges, defense lawyers, and defendants’ names were kept secret by the government.
Prominent activist Ahmed Mansoor was among those sentenced to life in prison, drawing further condemnation from human rights advocates. Khalid Ibrahim of the Gulf Center for Human Rights described the verdict as a “real tragedy” for activists and human rights defenders in the UAE.
Despite its reputation as a wealthy and technologically advanced country, the UAE has faced scrutiny for its restrictive political environment. The federation of seven emirates has no official opposition and bans political parties, leading to crackdowns on dissent in the past.
This latest mass trial underscores the challenges faced by activists and dissidents in the UAE, as they continue to advocate for political reform and human rights in a highly controlled environment.
