Human rights organizations call on Monday July 18 Emmanuel Macron to discuss human rights in Paris with the President of the United Arab Emirates Mohammed bin Zayed and to suspend the sale of arms to Abu Dhabi. “MBZlanded in Paris on Sunday to meet with the French president and sign several agreements, particularly in the energy sector, in a context of rising oil prices.
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the League for Human Rights (LDH) and the Gulf Center for Human Rights (GChr)urge you to express (…) your concern about the ongoing serious human rights violationsin the Emirates anddemand their cessation“, can we read in their open letter to the French head of state.
“Demand the immediate release” of opponents
FIDH, LDH and GChr refer in particular to the case of opponent and human rights activist Ahmed Mansoor, sentenced to ten years in prison in 2018 for having, according to the authorities, criticized the Emirati government and tarnished the image of his country on social networks. “Continuously and since the outbreak of the Arab revolts, the Emirati authorities have intensified acts of repression against those who express criticism and against members of civil society.“, denounce the three federations.
“Activists and human rights defenders are routinely subject to arrest, arbitrary detention, judicial harassment, imprisonment, surveillance, torture and ill-treatment“, they add, asking President Macron to”demand immediate releaseof several opponents. The three organizations also call on France to abstainto contribute to these violations human rightsby demonstrating a firm commitment to suspend all arms sales to the United Arab Emirates in accordance with France’s national and international commitments in this area.
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“Since the beginning of the escalation of the conflict in Yemen, several NGOs have highlighted the presence of French equipment sold to the coalition led by Saudi Arabia, of which the United Arab Emirates is a member.“, they underline. “This equipment was used against civilian populations in violation of the rules of national law, international human rights law and international humanitarian law“.