The sharp decline in the human rights situation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Emirati government’s cultivation of a climate of repression is gravely concerning. Euro-Med Monitor condemns the government’s violations of fundamental rights, such as the freedom of opinion and expression and the right to peaceful assembly.

In a swift and shocking decision just three days after their arrest, an Emirati court condemned 57 workers of Bangladeshi nationality to prison terms ranging from 10 years to life, with no provision for a fair trial or the right to have adequate time and facilities for the preparation of their defence...

A Bangladeshi worker who took part in the demonstrations and managed to avoid arrest told the Euro-Med Monitor team in a phone conversation that they had been informed about the arrest of “at least dozens of workers” during the protests, which “took place spontaneously and in several areas”. The worker also added that while some of the arrested people were released, the rest were kept in detention, pending investigations. “However, no information was provided to their families about their detention centres,” stated the worker...