Attorney General rubbishes Amnesty report on ‘dissent’

ABU DHABI // A human rights report that accuses the UAE of hiding a “crackdown on dissent” lacks any credible evidence or fact-checking, the Abu Dhabi attorney general said on Sunday.

In an Abu Dhabi Judicial Department statement, Mohammed Al Buloushi said an Amnesty International report on November 18 did not provide any proof for its claims. He denied claims about the UAE torturing prisoners, clarifying that the Emirates signed a convention against torture and other conventions that oppose inhumane treatment.

The UAE is ranked the top country in the region for applying law sovereignty, and 13th worldwide.

Legal officials were always monitoring and investigating any breaches or complaints by inmates, said Mr Al Buloushi.

There were regular visits to prisons and records were revised, as were detainee requests. Facilities were evaluated for hygiene, healthy food and well-being of prisoners.

There were no prisoners in UAE jails who were acquitted or who had finished serving their sentences, said Mr Al Buloushi. Trials were transparent and public, with the presence of the defendants, lawyers and families, media and human rights organisations.