The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) received disturbing reports that Syrian human rights defender Abdulrahman Al-Nahhas, who is imprisoned in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is not able to stand or walk or express himself coherently due to a rapid deterioration in his physical and mental health.

On 08 September 2021, the State Security Department of the UAE Federal Court issued a 10-year prison sentence against Al-Nahhas, on two charges of allegedly “belonging to a terrorist organisation” and “insulting the prestige of the state.”

On 23 December 2019, a State Security force arrested him from his home in Abu Dhabi, where he lived alone. He was subjected to enforced disappearance and torture, according to reliable reports, and was not allowed to contact his family or appoint a lawyer until he was transferred to Al-Wathba prison in Abu Dhabi in January 2021. He was allowed to contact his family once during this period, on 07 January 2021.

Al-Nahhas is a human rights activist who founded Insan Rights Watch to monitor human rights violations and war crimes in Syria. He was previously arrested in Syria in 2011 for documenting human rights violations. In late 2012, he was released to immigrate to Egypt, which he then left for the Emirates in July 2013, to get a job in Abu Dhabi, while continuing his work in the field of human rights.

In statements made by his brother Khalaf Al-Nahhas to the Emirates Detainees Advocacy Center (EDAC) the day after his brother was sentenced, he stated, “Abdulrahman is guilty of being a human rights defender.”

On 17 November 2023, Mary Lawlor, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, and Tlaleng Mofokeng, Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health sent a letter to authorities in UAE in which they said, “We would like to express concern at the reports of apparent medical negligence Mr. Al-Nahhas has been subjected to, as well as allegations of sexual violence against him. We also would like to express concern that his condition in prison has allegedly led to his attempting suicide.” The letter sought information about him including his physical and mental health, and allegation of the sexual violence, but received no response as yet.

GCHR believes that the UAE authorities continue to implement their systematic repressive policies, which include targeting human rights activists from all nationalities and restricting public freedoms.  

Recommendations

GCHR calls on the international community, especially governments that have influence in the Emirates, such as the United States of America, Great Britain, Canada and the members of the European Union, in addition to all United Nations mechanisms – including the concerned special rapporteurs, to intervene immediately to ensure the immediate release of Syrian human rights defender Abdulrahman Al-Nahhas from prison in the UAE, and to ensure his health and physical safety are not at risk.

GCHR also calls on the authorities in the UAE to:

1. Immediately and unconditionally release human rights defender Abdulrahman Al-Nahhas; and
2. Protect public freedoms in the country, including freedom of expression and freedom of the press.

Act now!

Please circulate widely the news about the condition of Syrian human rights defender Abdulrahman Al-Nahhas, and direct social media posts at the UAE and the UN Special Procedures to request their immediate intervention.

Contact Information:           

– United Nations Special Rapporteurs: @UN_SPExperts

– UAE government:

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State: @MohamedBinZayed  

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE: @HHShkMohd

– Please also contact your country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or your country’s embassy or consulate in the UAE. Check out the list here and then find it on Twitter:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_diplomatic_missions_in_the_United_Arab_Emirates