“UAE94” detainee Rashed Al Shamsi retried for new terrorism charges in the "UAE87" trial
Name(s):
Rashed Omran Ali Obeid al-Shamsi
Status:
Arbitrarily detained
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 December 7, 2023, a new mass trial began before the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal, where al-Shamsi is being retried for the same charges for which he was sentenced in the “UAE94” trial.
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.
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.
On December 1, 2023, al-Shamsi called his family from the inside of an unknown facility belonging to the State Security Apparatus (SSA).
On December 7, 2023, a new mass trial began before the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal, involving 87 defendants. In the inaugural hearing, the charges against al-Shamsi and his co-defendants were read out, with their reported attendance. Al-Shamsi and others are beingcharged 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, where three members of the SSA testified as witnesses for the Public Prosecution Office (PPO).
On December 19, 2023, MENA Rights Group and 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): |
Rashed Omran Ali Obeid al-Shamsi
|
| Status: |
Arbitrarily detained
|
| 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.
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.
On December 1, 2023, al-Shamsi called his family from the inside of an unknown facility belonging to the State Security Apparatus (SSA).
On December 7, 2023, a new mass trial began before the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal, involving 87 defendants. In the inaugural hearing, the charges against al-Shamsi and his co-defendants were read out, with their reported attendance. Al-Shamsi and others are beingcharged 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, where three members of the SSA testified as witnesses for the Public Prosecution Office (PPO).
On December 19, 2023, MENA Rights Group and 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.