Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged allies of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to “break their silence” regarding the mass trial of 84 political opponents and defenders of human rights on Wednesday.

In December 2023, the UAE brought new charges against 84 activists and dissidents under its counterterrorism law. As confirmed by the Emirates News Agency (WAM), the UAE’s Attorney General referred the defendants to the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal for trial on charges of establishing a clandestine organisation for the purpose of committing acts of violence and terrorism on UAE soil.

HRW argues the trial, the second largest in UAE’s history, has featured “allegations of ill-treatment that amount to torture, judges directing witness testimony … and hearings shrouded in secrecy.” Moreover, HRW said that the trial violates the principle of double jeopardy, which prevents a person from being tried two times for the same accusation, because some of the activists were already convicted in a 2013 mass trial.

Joey Shea, a United Arab Emirates researcher at HRW, stated, “This is the second largest unfair mass trial of political dissidents and human rights defenders in the UAE’s history and the international community is failing to flag any concern”. Under international law, Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) protects everyone’s right to an equal and fair trial, but the UAE is one of only 14 non-signatories to the treaty. Shea argues “The US, UK, the EU, and other allies of the UAE should be standing up for the 84 brave Emiratis who are facing life sentences simply for expressing their political beliefs and defending human rights.”

According to HRW, no embassy in the UAE has sent observers to the hearings. Developments on the trial and its sentence are expected.