“UAE94” detainee Mahmood al-Hosani charged with new terrorism charges alongside co-defendants in "UAE87" trial
Name(s):
Mahmood Hasan al-Hosani
Status:
Arbitrarily detained
Year of birth:
1980
Profession:
Public Relations Officer at Sharjah Transport
Nationality:
Emirati
Date of arrest:
Mahmood al-Hosani is an Emirati citizen, who was arrested on July 16, 2012, as part of the “UAE94”. He was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment. He completed his sentence in July 2019 but remains detained. On December 7, 2023, a new mass trial began before the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal, before which al-Hosani is being retried for the new terrorism charges.
In March 2011, after a group of 133 Emirati academics, judges, lawyers, students, and human rights defenders signed a petition addressed to the President of the United Arab Emirates and the country’s Federal Supreme Council calling for democratic reforms, the UAE’s State Security Apparatus (SSA) initiated a campaign of arrests against the individuals who signed the document.
Mahmood Hasan al-Hosani is a public relation officer at Sharjah Transport. On July 16, 2012, he was arrested as part of the “UAE94” for signing the petition calling for democratic reform in the UAE.
Arrested individuals were later sentenced in the UAE’s largest mass trial, known as the “UAE94”, before the Federal Supreme Court.
On January 27, 2013, the 94 defendants were charged with founding, organising and administering an organisation aimed at overthrowing the government, on the basis of article 180 of the penal code.
On July 2, 2013, the Emirati authorities convicted 61 of the 94 defendants, in addition to eight individuals in absentia. Al-Hosani was sentenced to 7 years’ imprisonment.
He should have been released on July 16, 2019, but remained in detention.
On June 3, 2020, MENA Rights Group submitted an allegation letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights and the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention regarding the use of Munasaha centres in the UAE. In this letter, we explained how these centres are being used to detain critics or activists raising the case of al-Hosani as he is held in the Munasaha centre in al-Razeen prison.
On December 7, 2023, a new mass trial began before the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal, involving 84 defendants. In the inaugural hearing, the charges against al-Hosani and his co-defendants were read out, with their reported attendance. Al-Hosani and others are charged with new terrorism crimes, namely, for establishing another clandestine organisation for the purpose of committing acts of violence and terrorism on UAE soil.
The second hearing tool place on December 14, 2023, featuring three members of the SSA as witnesses for the Public Prosecution Office (PPO).
On December 19, 2023, MENA Rights Group and the Emirates Detainees Advocacy Center (EDAC) requested the urgent intervention of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism.
The third hearing took place on December 21, 2023, and the entire trial was conducted secretly, with a notable absence of local media coverage.
On January 11, 2024, the fourth hearing took place with no media coverage. There have been reports of torture during this trial according to EDAC.
| Name(s): |
Mahmood Hasan al-Hosani
|
| Status: |
Arbitrarily detained
|
| Year of birth: |
1980
|
| Profession: |
Public Relations Officer at Sharjah Transport
|
| Nationality: |
Emirati
|
| Date of arrest: |
|
In March 2011, after a group of 133 Emirati academics, judges, lawyers, students, and human rights defenders signed a petition addressed to the President of the United Arab Emirates and the country’s Federal Supreme Council calling for democratic reforms, the UAE’s State Security Apparatus (SSA) initiated a campaign of arrests against the individuals who signed the document.
Mahmood Hasan al-Hosani is a public relation officer at Sharjah Transport. On July 16, 2012, he was arrested as part of the “UAE94” for signing the petition calling for democratic reform in the UAE.
Arrested individuals were later sentenced in the UAE’s largest mass trial, known as the “UAE94”, before the Federal Supreme Court.
On January 27, 2013, the 94 defendants were charged with founding, organising and administering an organisation aimed at overthrowing the government, on the basis of article 180 of the penal code.
On July 2, 2013, the Emirati authorities convicted 61 of the 94 defendants, in addition to eight individuals in absentia. Al-Hosani was sentenced to 7 years’ imprisonment.
He should have been released on July 16, 2019, but remained in detention.
On June 3, 2020, MENA Rights Group submitted an allegation letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights and the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention regarding the use of Munasaha centres in the UAE. In this letter, we explained how these centres are being used to detain critics or activists raising the case of al-Hosani as he is held in the Munasaha centre in al-Razeen prison.
On December 7, 2023, a new mass trial began before the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal, involving 84 defendants. In the inaugural hearing, the charges against al-Hosani and his co-defendants were read out, with their reported attendance. Al-Hosani and others are charged with new terrorism crimes, namely, for establishing another clandestine organisation for the purpose of committing acts of violence and terrorism on UAE soil.
The second hearing tool place on December 14, 2023, featuring three members of the SSA as witnesses for the Public Prosecution Office (PPO).
On December 19, 2023, MENA Rights Group and the Emirates Detainees Advocacy Center (EDAC) requested the urgent intervention of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism.
The third hearing took place on December 21, 2023, and the entire trial was conducted secretly, with a notable absence of local media coverage.
On January 11, 2024, the fourth hearing took place with no media coverage. There have been reports of torture during this trial according to EDAC.