Mr Ahmad Abd Al-Khaliq

Stateless UAE human rights defender Mr Ahmad Abd Al-Khaliq is facing imminent deportation to Thailand on 16 July 2012.

On 3 July, his father was summoned by the prison authorities and asked to prepare a ticket and visa so that his son may be deported to Thailand using a Comoros passport. The visa and ticket were duly issued on 8 July and provided to Ahmad Abd Al Khaliq the next day at Al Wathba Prison where he is currently held. This measure by the UAE authorities amounts to forcible removal of a person born and brought up in the UAE and is motivated solely by his involvement in peaceful and legitimate human rights work. His father and other members of his family who are also stateless remain in the UAE.

Ahmad Abd Al Khaliq is a prominent human rights defender known for his advocacy work for minority rights, and the rights of freedom of expression and association in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He was arrested on 22 May 2012 by the immigration authorities in the Emirate of Ajman and taken to an unknown location where he was initially held incommunicado. Ahmad Abd Al-Khaliq was one of five human rights defenders arbitrarily detained from April to November 2011, and subsequently sentenced to two years in prison for reportedly insulting UAE rulers. He was released along with the other four human rights defenders following an amnesty issued by the President of the UAE shortly after their conviction. His conviction, however, was not expunged, making him vulnerable to further persecution including the decision to deport him from the UAE.

Front Line Defenders condemns the decision by the UAE authorities to deport Ahmad Abd Al-Khaliq against his will and believes this measure, as well as his arbitrary detention and judicial harassment were solely motivated by his peaceful and legitimate human rights work, particularly his defence of the rights of stateless persons in the UAE. Front Line Defenders calls on the authorities in the UAE to immediately halt the deportation proceedings and to release Ahmad Abd Al-Khaliq from detention.

You can find additional information on the situation for human rights Defenders in United Arab Emirates. HERE