United Arab Emirates: Torture


The Human Rights Actions Network - Derechos Human Rights
http://www.derechos.org/human-rights/actions/


Case ARE 141196

The International Secretariat of OMCT requests you URGENT intervention in
the following situation in the United Arab Emirates. 

Brief description of the situation:

The International Secretariat has been informed, by a reliable source, that
Mr Elie Dib Ghalib - a restaurant manager at the Intercontinental Hotel in
al-'Ain in Abu Dhabi - has been sentenced to 39 lashes and one year's
imprisonment; a sentence which wil l be carried out on 16 November 1996. 

Mr Elie Dib Ghalib was arrested on 5 December 1995 reportedly for having,
as a Christian, married a UAE national Muslim woman. According to
information received from Amnesty International, on 29 October 1996, a
Shari'a court in al-'Ain in Abu Dhabi report edly ruled that the marriage
was null and void. On this basis their marital relationship was considered
immoral. 

Mr Elie Dib Ghalib was allegedly beaten and flogged many times during his
pre-trial detention and interrogation in al-'Ain police station apparently
to force him to sign a confession. He is currently held in al-'Ain Central
Prison where the sentence is li kely to be carried out. 

The International Secretariat is concerned about these events, and recalls
that Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - regarded as
customary law - states that " No one shall be subjected to torture or to
cruel, inhuman or degrading treat ment or punishment ". 

Action requested :

Please write to the United Arab Emirates authorities urging them to:

i take the appropriate measures to guarantee the physical and psychological
integrity of Mr Elie Dib Ghalib and order his immediate release in the
presumed absence of valid charges; 

ii. guarantee an impartial and exhaustive enquiry into the facts, identify
those responsible for the torture and ill treatment of Mr Elie Dib Ghalib,
bring them to trial and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative
sanctions provided by legislation; 


iii. ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental
freedoms in accordance with national laws and international standards.

Addresses :

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
Telex : 22220 PALACE EM

His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid al-Maktoum
Crown Prince
Ruler of Dubai
PO Box 899
Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates
Telex : 23245

His Excellency General Dr Mohammad Saeed al-Badi
Minister of Interior
PO Box 398
Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates
Fax : + 9712 461 621 or 415 688

Geneva, 14 November 1996

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal
in your reply. 

Ben Schonveld
Projects Manager

OMCT - SOS Torture Tel: +41-22-733 31 40 
Case Postale 119   Fax: +41 22-733 10 51
CH 1211 Geneva 20  Conf: omctsostorture@conf.igc.apc.org
Switzerland        OMCT@iprolink.ch

OMCT is the l'Organisation Mondiale contre la Torture
             The World Organisation Against Torture