CCS wrote to the Government of the United Arab Emirates to protest the detention of Dr. Nasser bin Ghaith, a scholar and lecturer in Economics.
Read the letter
April 20, 2011
Shaikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al-Maktoum
Co-Chair of the Higher National Security Council
Vice-President and Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister
POB 2838, Dubai
United Arab Emirates
Fax: +971 (4) 353-1974
Your Highness:
We are an independent organization of scientists, physicians, engineers and scholars devoted to the protection and advancement of human rights and scientific freedom for colleagues all over the world. We write now in grave concern for Dr. Nasser bin Ghaith.
Dr. Ghaith is a scholar and lecturer of economics at the Abu Dhabi branch of France’s Paris-Sorbonne University. According to published reports, state security forces in Dubai detained Dr. bin Ghaith on Sunday, April 10, 2011 and are holding him in an undisclosed location without any public statement of charges against him or other explanation for his arrest. It has been reported that his detention is likely to be related to recent statements he reportedly made criticizing government authorities for failing to undertake significant political reform.
If these reports are true, Dr. bin Ghaith’s detention would be a clear violation of internationally recognized standards of free expression, due process, fair trial and detention, as enshrined in the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights and many subsequent instruments. Moreover, if true, Dr. bin Ghaith’s detention without cause, especially if it were to continue, would be a serious and unfortunate blow to the many good efforts of the Government and others to develop the Emirates’ reputation and position as a center of knowledge, education and culture.
CCS respectfully urges authorities to intervene in Dr. bin Ghaith’s case, to direct the Government to disclose his whereabouts and condition, and to ensure his well-being—including regular access to family, to legal counsel of his choosing and to medical treatment—pending his earliest release.
Sincerely,
Joel L. Lebowitz
Paul H. Plotz
Walter Reich
Co-chairs
Committee of Concerned Scientists
COPIES TO:
His Excellency Lt-General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al-Nahyan
Minister of Interior
Human Rights Directorate
POB: 398
Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates
Fax: +971 (4) 398-1119
His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahya
Minister of Foreign Affairs
POB 1
Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates
Fax: +971 (2) 444-7766
Luc Chatel
Ministre de l’éducation nationale, de la jeunesse et de la vie associative
Ministère de l’Éducation nationale, de la Jeunesse et de la Vie associative
110 rue de Grenelle
75357 Paris SP 07
Tel: 01 55 55 10 10
Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi
P.O. Box 38044
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Tel: +971 (0)2 65 69 555/666
Fax: +971 (0)2 65 69 656
Université Paris-Sorbonne
12 Place du Panthéon
75005 Paris, France
Tel: 01 40 51 25 11