A mass trial in the United Arab Emirates has resulted in 43 dissidents being sentenced to life in prison, with several others receiving long prison terms. The trial, held at the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal, has been widely criticized by activists abroad. The UAE government described the case as involving the Muslim Brotherhood, a group deemed a terrorist organization by the Emirates. However, activists argue that the trial is targeting dissidents rather than addressing terrorism.
The state-run WAM news agency reported the verdicts, with five defendants receiving 15-year sentences and five others receiving 10-year sentences. The court dismissed the cases of 24 defendants. The court accused the convicted individuals of inciting violence similar to events in other Arab states, resulting in deaths, injuries, and destruction of property.
Human rights activists have raised concerns about the lack of specific evidence linking the defendants to violence or the Muslim Brotherhood. The verdict can be appealed to the UAE's Federal Supreme Court, but immediate criticism has been voiced internationally.
Organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have condemned the sentences, citing due process violations, torture allegations, and restrictions on basic rights for the defendants. The Emirates Detainees Advocacy Center expressed disappointment in the predictable nature of the sentences, suggesting that the trial was a facade to prolong the detention of prisoners of conscience.
Among those sentenced is activist Nasser bin Ghaith, who has been detained since 2015 over social media posts. The crackdown in the UAE following the 2011 Arab Spring protests has led to the sentencing of numerous individuals, including well-known human rights defenders.
The UAE, known for its social liberalism compared to neighboring countries, has strict laws governing expression and prohibits political parties and labor unions. The country's vast surveillance network has raised concerns among activists, as seen during the recent COP28 climate talks in Dubai.
