Human rights defender and UAE94 member Hamad Al Shamsi labelled as “terrorist” by UAE authorities

Human rights defender and UAE94 member Hamad Al Shamsi labelled as “terrorist” by UAE authorities

Hamad Al Shamsi is an Emirati human rights defender. In 2013, together with the other members of the group known as the “UAE94”, Al Shamsi was convicted in absentia to 15 years of prison based on vague national security-related charges by the Federal Supreme Court in Abu Dhabi. On September 12, 2021, Al Shamsi was included in the government’s terror list. He is currently living in exile in Turkey.

Hamad Al Shamsi is the Executive Director of the Emirates Detainees Advocacy Center, a non-profit organisation that seeks to shed light on the plight of prisoners of conscience detained in Emirati prisons and advocates on their behalf. He was also member of the Reform and Social Guidance Association (Al Islah), an association that had been operating in the UAE since 1974 but was banned by the authorities in March 2014.

Al Shamsi belongs to the UAE 94, a group of Emirati scholars, activists, lawyers, doctors and human rights defenders who were put on mass trial in 2013, after signing a petition calling for greater democratic reforms within the Emirates, including the establishment of democratic elections for all members of the Federal National Council.

On July 2, 2013, Al Al Shamsi was convicted in absentia to 15 years of prison based on vague national security-related charges by the Federal Supreme Court in Abu Dhabi.

On September 12, 2021, Al Shamsi, together with Saeed Al TenaijiAhmed Al Nuaimi, and Mohammed Saqer Al Zaabi, was included in the UAE’s national terrorism list, under the UAE Cabinet’s ministerial resolution No. 83 of 2021.

Timeline

September 12, 2021: Al Shamsi is included in the UAE’s national terrorism list.
July 2, 2013: Al Shamsi is sentenced in absentia to 15 years of prison.
March 4, 2013: The “UAE 94” trial commences.

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