Emirati detainee Nasser Bin Ghaith al-Marri sentenced on new charges of terrorism during the “UAE 84” trial
Name(s):
Nasser Bin Ghaith al-Marri
Status:
Arbitrarily detained
Profession:
University lecturer at Sorbonne Abu Dhabi
Nationality:
Emirati
Date of arrest:
Nasser Bin Ghaith al-Marri is an Emirati citizen, who was arrested on August 18, 2015. He was convicted and sentenced on March 29, 2017, to ten years in prison on charges including “posting false information” about UAE leaders and their policies. On December 7, 2023, a new mass trial began before the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal, during which Nasser Bin Ghaith was retried on new terrorism charges.
On August 18, 2015, Bin Ghaith was arrested without being shown a warrant, at his workplace in Abu-Dhabi by 13 officers from the State security forces. The officers took him to an unknown location.
On August 27, 2015, several mandate holders of the UN Special Procedures wrote an urgent appeal communication to the UAE authorities for Bin Ghaith.
Bin Ghaith was held incommunicado for nearly eight months, as he was not able to communicate with the outside world.
On April 4, 2016, Bin Ghaith was taken to appear before the State Security Chamber of the Federal Supreme Court. The hearing was not public and was not allowed to talk to his lawyer. When given the opportunity to address the court, Bin Ghaith stated that he had been subjected to acts of torture while in detention and that he was being held in secret as he did not know where he was being held.
Bin Ghaith was charged with “committing a hostile act against a foreign country” for tweets where he criticized the Egyptian authorities because of the “Rabaa massacre”. He was also charged with “posting false information” about UAE leaders and their policies.
On May 18, 2016, he was transferred from his place of secret detention to al-Sadr prison in Abu Dhabi, where he was detained in solitary confinement until his sentencing.
In December 2016, the case of Bin Ghaith was transferred to the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal, and an Egyptian judge was appointed to adjudicate his case.
On March 29, 2017, the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal convicted Bin Ghaith of all the charges against him and sentenced him to 10 years in prison.
On April 2, 2017, Bin Ghaith started a hunger strike to protest against his unfair trail, and was transferred, as a retaliation, to al-Razeen prison which is known for its poor detention conditions.
On May 3, 2017, a number of mandate holders of the UN Special Procedures submitted a joint letter of allegation to the UAE authorities regarding Bin Ghaith.
On January 15, 2018, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention deemed Bin Ghaith’s detention as arbitrary and urged the UAE authorities to immediately release him.
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 Bin Ghaith and his co-defendants were read out, with their reported attendance. Bin Ghaith 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 took place on December 14, 2023, featuring three members of the State Security Apparatus (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 6, 2024, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) publicly announced that the UAE Attorney General had referred 84 defendants, including al-Marri, to the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal (State Security) in Case No. 87 of 2023, alleging the establishment and management of a clandestine organisation known as the “Justice and Dignity Committee.”
The proceedings continued in secrecy, with no meaningful public scrutiny and repeated concerns regarding due process and fair trial rights. On January 11, 2024, the fourth hearing reportedly took place with no media coverage, amid allegations of torture and ill-treatment reported by EDAC.
On May 10, 2024, WAM reported that the court set July 10, 2024 as the date to deliver its verdict, following a hearing in which defence submissions and pleadings were heard.
On July 10, 2024, the Abu Dhabi Federal Appeals Court (State Security) issued its verdict and sentenced dozens of defendants to lengthy prison terms. According to WAM, the court convicted 53 defendants, sentencing 43 to life imprisonment, and imposed additional prison terms and heavy fines in connection with allegations including the establishment of the “Justice and Dignity Committee” and related financing activities.
On March 4, 2025, the State Security Chamber of the Federal Supreme Court rejected the appeal, formed by 53 defendants, thereby upholding the 43 life sentences, five sentences of 15 years and five sentences of 10 years.
On June 26, 2025, the Criminal Chamber of the Federal Supreme Court overturned the earlier judgment from July 10, 2024 and increased the number of life imprisonment sentences to 67. Accordingly, the final judgment provides 67 life sentences, five sentences of 15 years, five sentences of 10 years, one acquittal and the conviction of six institutions with their assets confiscated.
UN experts have repeatedly expressed serious concerns regarding the UAE84 case, including calls on Emirati authorities to refrain from prosecuting the defendants on grounds of incompatibility with international human rights standards. Following the imposition of life sentences, experts expressed dismay over the severity of the sentences handed down. Further alarm has since been raised over the prolonged arbitrary detention and alleged ill-treatment of individuals implicated in the case.
*Photo credit: Courtesy of Amnesty International.
| Name(s): |
Nasser Bin Ghaith al-Marri
|
| Status: |
Arbitrarily detained
|
| Profession: |
University lecturer at Sorbonne Abu Dhabi
|
| Nationality: |
Emirati
|
| Date of arrest: |
|
On August 18, 2015, Bin Ghaith was arrested without being shown a warrant, at his workplace in Abu-Dhabi by 13 officers from the State security forces. The officers took him to an unknown location.
On August 27, 2015, several mandate holders of the UN Special Procedures wrote an urgent appeal communication to the UAE authorities for Bin Ghaith.
Bin Ghaith was held incommunicado for nearly eight months, as he was not able to communicate with the outside world.
On April 4, 2016, Bin Ghaith was taken to appear before the State Security Chamber of the Federal Supreme Court. The hearing was not public and was not allowed to talk to his lawyer. When given the opportunity to address the court, Bin Ghaith stated that he had been subjected to acts of torture while in detention and that he was being held in secret as he did not know where he was being held.
Bin Ghaith was charged with “committing a hostile act against a foreign country” for tweets where he criticized the Egyptian authorities because of the “Rabaa massacre”. He was also charged with “posting false information” about UAE leaders and their policies.
On May 18, 2016, he was transferred from his place of secret detention to al-Sadr prison in Abu Dhabi, where he was detained in solitary confinement until his sentencing.
In December 2016, the case of Bin Ghaith was transferred to the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal, and an Egyptian judge was appointed to adjudicate his case.
On March 29, 2017, the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal convicted Bin Ghaith of all the charges against him and sentenced him to 10 years in prison.
On April 2, 2017, Bin Ghaith started a hunger strike to protest against his unfair trail, and was transferred, as a retaliation, to al-Razeen prison which is known for its poor detention conditions.
On May 3, 2017, a number of mandate holders of the UN Special Procedures submitted a joint letter of allegation to the UAE authorities regarding Bin Ghaith.
On January 15, 2018, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention deemed Bin Ghaith’s detention as arbitrary and urged the UAE authorities to immediately release him.
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 Bin Ghaith and his co-defendants were read out, with their reported attendance. Bin Ghaith 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 took place on December 14, 2023, featuring three members of the State Security Apparatus (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 6, 2024, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) publicly announced that the UAE Attorney General had referred 84 defendants, including al-Marri, to the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal (State Security) in Case No. 87 of 2023, alleging the establishment and management of a clandestine organisation known as the “Justice and Dignity Committee.”
The proceedings continued in secrecy, with no meaningful public scrutiny and repeated concerns regarding due process and fair trial rights. On January 11, 2024, the fourth hearing reportedly took place with no media coverage, amid allegations of torture and ill-treatment reported by EDAC.
On May 10, 2024, WAM reported that the court set July 10, 2024 as the date to deliver its verdict, following a hearing in which defence submissions and pleadings were heard.
On July 10, 2024, the Abu Dhabi Federal Appeals Court (State Security) issued its verdict and sentenced dozens of defendants to lengthy prison terms. According to WAM, the court convicted 53 defendants, sentencing 43 to life imprisonment, and imposed additional prison terms and heavy fines in connection with allegations including the establishment of the “Justice and Dignity Committee” and related financing activities.
On March 4, 2025, the State Security Chamber of the Federal Supreme Court rejected the appeal, formed by 53 defendants, thereby upholding the 43 life sentences, five sentences of 15 years and five sentences of 10 years.
On June 26, 2025, the Criminal Chamber of the Federal Supreme Court overturned the earlier judgment from July 10, 2024 and increased the number of life imprisonment sentences to 67. Accordingly, the final judgment provides 67 life sentences, five sentences of 15 years, five sentences of 10 years, one acquittal and the conviction of six institutions with their assets confiscated.
UN experts have repeatedly expressed serious concerns regarding the UAE84 case, including calls on Emirati authorities to refrain from prosecuting the defendants on grounds of incompatibility with international human rights standards. Following the imposition of life sentences, experts expressed dismay over the severity of the sentences handed down. Further alarm has since been raised over the prolonged arbitrary detention and alleged ill-treatment of individuals implicated in the case.
*Photo credit: Courtesy of Amnesty International.
