Skyline Condemns The Detention Of An Emirati Youth And The Ruling On A Bahraini Rights Activist.

Stockholm 11/07/2017

 

 

    Skyline International condemns UAE’s security services arrest of young Ghanem Abdullah Mattar and the sentence of Bahraini human rights activist Nabeel Rajab to two years in prison.

“Young Mattar was arrested and subjected to enforced disappearance, shortly after he posted a video in which he expressed his personal opinion about the boycott campaign against Qatar,” said Eida Sedar, Skyline’sInternational Relations Officer.

In a series of Snapchat videos, Ghanem criticized the Saudi-led blockade imposed on Qatar, saying” Qatar has proven to us that it cannot be led… It leads its people, but it cannot be led.” The arrest comes after the UAE’s criminalization of any expression of sympathy or solidarity with Qatar, according to a previous statement by the MP General of the UAE. Those found convicted could face a fine of 500,000 dirhams ($136,000) and prison sentence of 13-15 years.

A Bahraini court later sentenced human rights activist Najib Rajab to two years in jail for tweeting and re-tweeting in addition to conducting televised interviews with international media.

Rajab is one of the most prominent defenders of human rights in Bahrain. Previously, he was detained for two years during which he was subjected to severe torture, as it can be seen from his personal pictures that show what to be believed is bruises.