“UAE94” detainee Rashed al-Shamsi forcibly disappeared since June 12, 2023
Name(s):
Rashed Omran Ali Obeid al-Shamsi
Status:
Forcibly disappeared
Year of birth:
1977
Profession:
Director of Media and Loyalty Programs at Al Ittihad
Nationality:
Emirati
Date of arrest:
Rashed Omran al-Shamsi is an Emirati citizen, who was arrested on July 16, 2012, as part of the “UAE94”. He was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment. He completed his sentence in July 2023 but remains detained. On June 12, 2023, he gave his last phone call to his family. They have lost any contact with him since then.
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.
Rashed Omran al-Shamsi is the former Director of Media and Loyalty Programs at Al Ittihad Association in Dubai. 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-Shamsi was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment.
On June 12, 2023, al-Shamsi made a final call to his family from within Al Razeen Prison. Since then, his family has not received any communication from him. He is being held incommunicado since that date, with no access or contact with the outside world.
He should have been released on July 16, 2023, but remains in detention.
On September 12, 2023, MENA Rights Group requested the urgent intervention of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, calling on them to urge the Emirati authorities to take action to clarify al-Shamsi’s fate and whereabouts.
| Name(s): |
Rashed Omran Ali Obeid al-Shamsi
|
| Status: |
Forcibly disappeared
|
| Year of birth: |
1977
|
| Profession: |
Director of Media and Loyalty Programs at Al Ittihad
|
| 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.
Rashed Omran al-Shamsi is the former Director of Media and Loyalty Programs at Al Ittihad Association in Dubai. 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-Shamsi was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment.
On June 12, 2023, al-Shamsi made a final call to his family from within Al Razeen Prison. Since then, his family has not received any communication from him. He is being held incommunicado since that date, with no access or contact with the outside world.
He should have been released on July 16, 2023, but remains in detention.
On September 12, 2023, MENA Rights Group requested the urgent intervention of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, calling on them to urge the Emirati authorities to take action to clarify al-Shamsi’s fate and whereabouts.
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