(November 04, 2011) A coalition of international human rights organizations on Thursday
accused the United Arab Emirates of violating international legal standards by prosecuting
five jailed campaigners for political reforms in the oil-rich Gulf federation. The
statement by the 7-member alliance, that includes Amnesty International and Human
Rights Watch, marks the highest level international pressure over the trial. The five
activists were arrested in April and charged with insulting the UAE's rulers and endangering
the country's security. If convicted on all charges, the defendants who have no right
to appeal could face decades in prison. A verdict is expected on Nov. 27. The coalition
of rights groups said the legal proceedings at Abu Dhabi's Federal Supreme Court have
been ``grossly unfair'' and that the case against the activists has ``no basis in
international law.'' The activists, including a prominent blogger and an economics
professor who has lectured at the Abu Dhabi branch of Paris' Sorbonne university,
were charged with anti-state crimes after signing an Internet petition calling for
constitutional changes and free elections. Political activity is severely restricted
in the UAE, an alliance of seven semiautonomous states, each ruled by a sheik who
inherits the post. There are no official opposition groups in the emirates, and political
parties are banned. UAE authorities moved aggressively to keep demands for political
change, inspired by the Arab Spring revolts, out of their federation that includes
the glitzy city-state Dubai.