PUBLICAI Index: MDE 25/004/2001

3 September 2001

Further information on UA 193/01 (MDE 25/003/2001, 31 July 2001) - Incommunicado detention/ “disappearance”, fear of forcible return

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE)/ LIBYA

Ahmad Mohammad ‘Ali ‘Ak’ak [m]

‘Ali Bashir [m]

‘Ali ‘Amish [m]

New names

‘Abdullah Abu al-Qasim al-Ghazal [m], aged 39

Ahmad Ramadhan Hussain Qanud [m], aged 36

Two more Libyan nationals have been arrested by the UAE authorities. Their fate and whereabouts are unknown and Amnesty International is concerned for their safety should they be forcibly returned to Libya, as they would be at risk of serious human rights violations.

On 31 August, ‘Abdullah Abu al-Qasim al-Ghazal was arrested at his local mosque in ‘Ajman. Following his arrest, five men and one woman, believed to be members of Amn al-Dawla (State Security), reportedly searched his house and asked his wife for his passport. They refused to give her any information about the reasons for his arrest or his whereabouts. ‘Abdullah Abu al-Qasim al-Ghazal, left Libya in 1989 to avoid arrest because of his religious activities. He went to Syria where he took up religious studies in Damascus, and travelled to the UAE in 1997. ‘Abdullah Abu al-Qasim al-

Ghazal is a father of four children and worked as an accountant at a local company in Dubai.

Ahmad Ramadhan Hussain Qanud was also arrested on 31 August at his local mosque in the Emirate of al-Sharjah. His house was reportedly searched before he was taken to an unknown destination. Before his arrest he worked as an Imam (religious leader) and had fled Libya around 1993. He went to Saudi Arabia where he remained until he travelled to the UAE in 1997. Ahmad Ramadhan Hussain Qanud is married and has two children.

There is still no information about the fate of Ahmad Mohammad ‘Ali ‘Ak’ak, ‘Ali Bashir and ‘Ali ‘Amish, and there are reports that more Libyan nationals have been arrested in the UAE.

FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals in English, Arabic or your own language:

- requesting clarification of the reasons for the arrest and detention of ‘Abdullah Abu al-Qasim al-Ghazal and Ahmad Ramadhan Hussain Qanud;

- requesting that they be given access to relatives, lawyers of their own choosing and medical care as necessary;

- urging their immediate release if they are not to be charged with a recognizable criminal offence;

- urging that ‘Abdullah Abu al-Qasim al-Ghazal, Ahmad Ramadhan Hussain Qanud, Ahmad Mohammad ‘Ali ‘Ak’ak, ‘Ali Bashir and ‘Ali ‘Amish should not be forcibly returned to Libya.

APPEALS TO:

President

His Highness

al-Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan

President of the United Arab Emirates

Ruler of Abu Dhabi

Manhal Palace

PO Box 280, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Telexes: 22220 PALACE EM

Telegrams:President Al-Nahyan, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Salutation: Your Highness

Minister of Interior

His Excellency

General Dr Mohammad Saeed al-Badi

Minister of Interior

PO Box 398

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Faxes: +971 2 4414938

Telegrams: Interior Minister, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Salutation: Your Excellency

Minister of Justice & Islamic Affairs

His Excellency Mohammad Nukhairah al-Dhahiri

Minister of Justice & Islamic Affairs

Ministry of Justice & Islamic Affairs

PO Box 753 Abu Dhabi

United Arab Emirates

Telegrams:Justice Minister, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Faxes:+ 971 4 282 5557

email: mojia@uae.gov.ae

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 15 October 2001