The United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) 2014 Counterterrorism Law has functioned as a weapon for political repression. With its vague definitions, the law enables authorities to equate peaceful criticism with terrorism, imposing harsh sentences, including life imprisonment and the death penalty, often without credible evidence. In recent years, this repression has expanded beyond outspoken critics to[…]
05
May
May
Between December 2024 and February 2025, Saudi Arabia released about 44 prisoners. Many of these are human rights activists or people arrested in the wake of restrictions on the right to expression in the country. As much as this event may seem a step forward for Saudi Arabia, another aspect must be considered – many[…]
02
May
May
On 30 January 2025, Saudi Arabia and the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) announced an agreement to open a regional office in Saudi Arabia to support law enforcement efforts across the Middle East and North Africa. This included plans for the new office to cooperate with regional structures such as the Arab Interiors Ministers’ Council[…]
28
Apr
Apr
On 24 April 2025, three United Nations Special Rapporteurs published an allegation letter on their websites, sent to the Government of Bahrain on 17 February 2025, regarding the case of Bahraini human rights defender and blogger Naji Fateel. The letter raised serious concerns about retaliatory actions following Fateel’s release under royal pardon on 8 April[…]
17
Apr
Apr
Introduction The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has rapidly positioned itself as a leader in artificial intelligence (AI), integrating advanced technologies across various sectors to drive economic growth and enhance governance. Central to this strategy is the deployment of AI-driven surveillance systems aimed at increasing national security and public safety. However, the extensive use of such[…]
