UAE Activists Sentenced to Prison Again

Following the expiration of their initial sentences, more than 80 lawyers, academics, and activists in the United Arab Emirates were hopeful for their release from prison. However, their hopes were dashed as they were unexpectedly prosecuted again, with the majority receiving harsh sentences on Wednesday.

The individuals were accused of forming a “terrorist” group known as the Justice and Dignity Committee. In a court in Abu Dhabi, 10 of them were sentenced to an additional 10 to 15 years, while 43 others received life imprisonment. The court dismissed the cases against 24 defendants and acquitted one, leaving the outcomes for the remaining individuals unclear.

Ahmed Al Nuaimi, an Emirati dissident living in London, expressed shock at the severity of the sentences, questioning how a call for democracy could result in life imprisonment. Al Nuaimi himself was tried in absentia in the case, and his brother, who is currently imprisoned in the Emirates, received a life sentence.

Life imprisonment in the UAE typically equates to a 25-year term, which for many detainees – who are mostly in their 50s, 60s, and older – means spending the rest of their lives behind bars, according to their relatives.