Emirati human rights defender and UAE94 member Mohamed Saqer Al Zaabi labelled as “terrorist” by UAE authorities

Emirati human rights defender and UAE94 member Mohamed Saqer Al Zaabi labelled as “terrorist” by UAE authorities

Mohamed Saqer Al Zaabi is an Emirati human rights defender. In 2013, together with the other members of the group known as the “UAE94”, Al Zaabi 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 Zaabi was included in the government’s terror list. He is currently living in exile in the UK.

Mohamed Saqer al-Zaabi is a former Public Prosecutor and head of the Jurists Association in the UAE. 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 Zaabi 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 Zaabi 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 Zaabi, together with Hamad Al Shamsi, Ahmed Al Nuaimi, and Saeed Al Tenaiji, 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 Zaabi is included in the UAE’s national terrorism list.
July 2, 2013: Al Zaabi is sentenced in absentia to 15 years of prison.
March 4, 2013: The “UAE 94” trial commences.

Related