The UAE’s Federal National Council has added its voice to protests about a EU Parliament resolution concerning human rights in the UAE.
In a statement, the FNC said it was “shocked” by the report, adding that it had been published “without approaching the UAE”.
The EU report criticised the UAE over conditions for migrant workers, the status of women and the death penalty.
It expressed “severe concerns” for the well being of approximately 62 political detainees arrested this year and called on Emirati authorities to ensure “a fair trial and due process” for all detainees. It urged the UAE to “respect the rule of law and ensure the fair trial of all arrested political activists”.
The EU resolution also called on authorities to “guarantee that human rights defenders are able to carry out their work without fear of reprisal or retribution” and appealed for “an investigation into recent allegations of physical assault and torture of those under arrest”.
Adding to a previous rebuttal by Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, the UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, the FNC said in comments published by news agency WAM that the EU had based the resolution on “biased reports that contain many baseless allegations and inaccurate information about the real situation in the UAE”.
It added: “The prejudiced, harmful decision to the UAE stances towards the discussed issues in such a harry manner underlines the lack of objectivity on the part of the established EU institution.
“The UAE achievements in the past four decades stand testimony to its respect for human rights for both its nationals and non-nationals. High development rates have also drawn commendation from all.
“The issues tackled by the decision including rights of women and foreign workforce, human trafficking, and domestic helpers, have been receiving full attention of the State. The UAE women have enjoyed their rights to education, public job and political participation.”
The FNC statement said: “The foreign workforce has been provided with favourite conditions through proper housing, fair wages and human working environment. The FNC has debated the domestic helpers law in its previous term.
“The UAE leadership and people will not hesitate in defending their just stances and protecting rights of citizens. The UAE will go ahead with its plans for development so as to build a modern state that takes the lead in all fields, a state that is based on principles of religion, traditions, heritage and cherished political legacy left by the founding fathers led by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.”
In March, the UAE closed two international thinktanks promoting democracy overseas, Germany’s Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and the US-funded National Democratic Institute, without giving reasons.
The UAE says it has no political prisoners and says the detainees whose cases have been cited by international rights groups are Islamist militants who threaten the state.
Last week, Gargash sent a tweet criticising Britain’s Guardian newspaper for an editorial in which it questioned the UAE’s human rights record.
Follow us on
