HRW slams UAE for violating rights of academics

Human Rights Watch this morning condemned the UAE for its violations in protecting basic human rights by persecuting Emirati academic Nasser Bin Ghaith.

Security officers disguised as civilians arrested Bin Ghaith in Abu Dhabi on 18 August 2015, four days after he posted a series of tweets that criticised Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s government. He also condemned the Egyptian security forces for their handling of the Rabaa massacre.

Authorities held Bin Ghaith in detention for nine months after his arrest. He was not allowed to see a lawyer and was not informed of the charges against him until the second session of his trial on 2 May 2016. During his trial he complained to the judge that he had been tortured in detention.

After speaking up about his torture, he was further charged for “intending to damage the UAE”.  He was also accused of violating article 29 of the UAE’s 2012 cybercrime law, which means he could face a maximum of 15 years in prison for publishing material online with “sarcastic intent” or to “damage the reputation” of the state.