Ahmed Al-Atoum convicted for harming Jordanian political ties

 

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Ahmed al-Atoum, a former 49-year-old Jordanian teacher residing in Abu Dhabi, has been at the center of an ongoing human rights issue since his arrest in May 2020. Al-Atoum’s activism and outspoken criticism of corruption in the Jordanian government led to his detention in the United Arab Emirates, where he had lived for about five years before his arrest.

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Al-Atoum’s ordeal began when UAE State Security Apparatus members apprehended him in Abu Dhabi on May 14, 2020. Following his arrest, he endured incommunicado detention and prolonged solitary confinement, during which he was denied legal representation and family contact. His trial's lack of due process and transparency further raised concerns about a fair trial.

Despite appeals from international human rights groups like MENA Rights Group, Emirates Detainees Advocacy Center, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch, al-Atoum’s case has been characterized by systemic flaws and basic rights violations.

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The charges against al-Atoum under the UAE penal code highlight patterns of suppressing free expression. This provision was used to silence al-Atoum’s dissenting views on his Facebook profile. His conviction solely on criticizing the Jordanian monarchy underscores the UAE’s disregard for fundamental rights like free expression.

Despite condemnation and a UN opinion declaring his detention arbitrary, al-Atoum remains imprisoned. The recent passing of his mother without a final goodbye has amplified calls for his immediate release. However, continued silence from UAE officials only exacerbates concerns about its human rights commitments.