Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Alkarama organization say detainees in the United Arab Emirates have been subjected to Ëœsystematic torture.â„¢
On Thursday, the three rights groups said in a joint statement that they had received 22 handwritten letters sent by some of the detainees, citing Å“systematic mistreatment and torture.”
Å“The mistreatment described in the letters is consistent with other allegations of torture at UAE state security facilities, and indicates that torture is a systematic practice at these facilities,” the groups stated.
A group of 94 Emirati nationals are awaiting trial over charges of plotting to overthrow the government. They are reportedly members or supporters of Al-Islah group, which is linked to Egyptâ„¢s Muslim Brotherhood.
On March 4, some defendants told the judge during their first trial hearing that they had been Å“seriously ill-treated during months in detention,” the rights groups said, urging Emirati officials to Å“ensure prompt, independent, and impartial investigations into allegations of torture and other ill-treatment, enforced disappearances and other serious human rights violations.”
The detainees are expecting a court ruling on July 2. They were arrested between March and December 2012 on charges of belonging to an Å“illegal secret group plotting to take power.”
On June 19, Emirati authorities announced that they would put on trial a group of 30 Egyptian and Emiratis on charges of running an illegal branch of Egyptâ„¢s Muslim Brotherhood.
In this regard, prosecutor Ahmed al-Danhani said the group had attempted to recruit new members and received financial assistance from a Å“secret organization that had sought to seize power in the country,” apparently referring to the group of 94 Emirati detainees.
MKA/HSN
Republished with permission from:: Press TV