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Country: United Arab Emirates
City / Location:
Period / Date:
Subject: Alleged mass arrest and detention of human rights defenders, judges and lawyers. According to the information received, 64 human rights defenders, including judges and lawyers, have been arrested and detained since the beginning of 2012, while the location of 56 of those detained is unknown. Most of the arrests have been reportedly carried out by state security agents in individuals’ homes, with electronic items allegedly confiscated during many of the arrests. Many of the detained are members of Al Islah (Reform and Social Guidance Association), an organization calling for peaceful political debate and greater democracy in the political system of the country. Those arrested and detained include prominent human rights lawyers Dr. Mohamed Abdullah Al Roken and Mr. Mohamed Al Mansoori, Mr. Salim Hamdoon Al Shahhi, the lawyer representing Dr. Al Roken and Mr. Al Mansoori, and judge Mr. Mohamed Dhyab Al Abdouli. It is also alleged that independent lawyer Mr. Abdulhameed Al Kumaiti has been subjected to acts of harassment, intimidation and surveillance, as a result of his legal representation of the 64 detainees. At the time of the communication, the whereabouts of Messrs. Ahmad Gaith Al Suwaidi, Rashid Mohamed Abdullah Al Roken, Abdullah Al Hajiri, Juma Darwish El Felassi, Ali Saaed Al Kindi, and Khamis Saaed Al Sam Al Zyoudi allegedly remained unknown.
Number of identified alleged victims: 44

First name last nameagesexaffiliation
Abdulaziz Harib Al-Muhairiunknownmale No affiliation
Abdulhameed Al Kumaitiunknownmale No affiliation
Abdullah Al Hajiriunknownmale No affiliation
Abdullah Al-Jabriunknownmale No affiliation
Abdulraheem Al Zarouniunknownmale No affiliation
Abdulraheem Naqiunknownmale No affiliation
Abdulrahmane Al Hadadiunknownmale No affiliation
Abdusalaam Darwishunknownmale No affiliation
Adnane Julfarunknownmale No affiliation
Ahmad Al Zaabiunknownmale No affiliation
Ahmad Gaith Al Suwaidiunknownmale No affiliation
Ahmed Abdul Khalequnknownmale No affiliation
Ahmed Awad Al-Sharqiunknownmale No affiliation
Ahmed Salim Al-Zaabiunknownmale No affiliation
Ali Abdullah Al Khajaunknownmale No affiliation
Ali Al Maneiunknownmale No affiliation
Ali Saaed Al Kindiunknownmale No affiliation
Essa Al Sariunknownmale No affiliation
Fatima Al Salagiunknownfemale No affiliation
Hamad Roqaitunknownmale No affiliation
Hassan Al Qattanunknownmale No affiliation
Husain Al Najarunknownmale No affiliation
Ibrahim Al Yassiunknownmale No affiliation
Issa Khalifa Al Suwaidiunknownmale No affiliation
Jamal Awad Al-Sharqiunknownmale No affiliation
Juma Darwish Al Felassiunknownmale No affiliation
Khalid Al Sheiba Al Nuami unknownmale No affiliation
Khalifa Al Nuaimiunknownmale No affiliation
Khamis Saaed Al Sam Al Zyoudiunknownmale No affiliation
Mahmoud Al Hossaniunknownmale No affiliation
Mansoor Al Ahmadiunknownmale No affiliation
Mohamed Abdullah Al Rokenunknownmale No affiliation
Mohamed Al Mansooriunknownmale No affiliation
Mohamed Al Naqbiunknownmale No affiliation
Mohamed Dhyab Al Abdouliunknownmale No affiliation
Musabeh Al Rumaitiunknownmale No affiliation
Omran Al Radhwanunknownmale No affiliation
Rashed Omran Al Shamsiunknownmale No affiliation
Rashid Khalfan Bin Sabtunknownmale No affiliation
Rashid Mohamed Abdullah Al Rokenunknownmale No affiliation
Saeed Naser Al Wahediunknownmale No affiliation
Saif Al Ajlahunknownmale No affiliation
Salim Hamdoon Al Shahhiunknownmale No affiliation
Tariq Al Qasimunknownmale No affiliation

Total number of unidentified alleged victims: -

Status or occupationNumber and gender

General concerns:

Total number of alleged victims: 44
Related communications:
Previous communications: ARE 6/2011; ARE 8/2011; ARE 5/2012; ARE 1/2013; ARE 1/2015; ARE 3/2015; ARE 2/2016; ARE 3/2019; ARE 3/2021; ARE 1/2024; ARE 3/2025
Follow up communications: