PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 25/001/2007

06 March 2007

UA 54/07 Incommunicado detention/fear of torture or ill-treatment

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 'Abdullah Sultan al-Subaihat (m), aged 46, agricultural engineer

Agricultural engineer ‘Abdullah Sultan al-Subaihat was arrested on 8 February by Amn al-Dawla(State Security) officers, at the agricultural administration department in the Emirate of 'Ajman, which he runs. They took him to his house, searched it and confiscated a number of books, then took him away handcuffed and blindfolded. He has not been charged with any offence, and it is not known why he was arrested. He is thought to be detained in the capital, Abu Dhabi. He is held incommunicado, putting him at risk of torture or ill-treatment.

He owns a small farm, which is also said to have been searched; it is not known whether anything was taken.

‘Abdullah Sultan al-Subaihat is the head of ‘Ajman’s agricultural administration department. He was arrested on 2 August 2005, for reasons unknown, along with two other people (see UA 218/05, MDE 25/004/2005, 23 August 2005). All three were held incommunicado, and eventually released without charge on 25 October 2005.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Political suspects in the UAE are commonly held incommunicado in undisclosed locations. Those arrested by the Amn al-Dawlaare reportedly often kept in solitary confinement. One man, Salem al-Baloushi, was reportedly kept in solitary confinement for six years, from 1994 to 2000, when he was released without charge. A few political detainees have been allowed to make brief and limited phone calls to their families.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English or your own language:

- expressing concern that ‘Abdullah Sultan al-Subaihat, who was arrested by Amn al-Dawlaofficers on 8 February, is being held incommunicado, putting him at risk of torture or ill-treatment;

- asking the authorities why he was arrested, and urging them to ensure that he is given access to lawyers of his own choosing, his family and any medical care that he may require;

- urging the authorities to charge him promptly with a recognisably criminal offence, or else release him.

APPEALS TO:

Vice-President and Prime Minister

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al-Maktoum

Office of the Prime Minister

POB 73311

Dubai

United Arab Emirates

Fax: +971 4 330 4000

Salutation: Your Highness

Minister of the Interior

His Excellency

Major-General Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Ministry of the Interior

PO Box 398

Abu Dhabi

United Arab Emirates

Fax: + 971 2 4414938

Salutation: Your Excellency

Minister of Foreign Affairs

His Excellency

Shaikh ‘Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

PO Box 1

Abu Dhabi

United Arab Emirates

Fax: + 971 4 228 0979

Salutation: Your Excellency

COPIES TO: diplomatic representatives of the United Arab Emirates accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 17 April 2007.********