UN report slams UAE over human rights violations

A recent report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has slammed the UAE over its human rights violations including enforced disappearances and the abuse of prisoners, the Anadolu Agency reported.

The report expressed concern over cases of enforced disappearance, the trial of human rights activists for expressing their views, the torture of prisoners, the injustice against foreign workers, discrimination against women and the judiciary’s subordination to the executive authorities.

The report is expected to be presented at the 29th session of the human rights council scheduled from 15-26 January.

With regards to civil and political rights, the report said that guarantees on arbitrary arrest and detention under the Code of Criminal Procedure did not apply to persons who were arrested on charges of endangering state security or terrorism.

Read: 13 jailed for espionage in UAE

The report described cases of enforced disappearance, the arrest of persons without a warrant, and incarceration in secret detention facilities.

The report also noted the “credible information and evidence that many of these individuals were tortured or otherwise ill-treated”.