UN rights experts have urged the United Arab Emirates to release Alia Abdulnoor, who has terminal breast cancer, and is currently detained in Tawam hospital, reportedly subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment.
Ms Abdulnour is reportedly held in a windowless room without ventilation, and is chained to a bed and under armed guard.
“We are extremely concerned about the physical and mental integrity of Ms Abdulnoor, and about reports that the conditions of detention are causing her unnecessary pain”, the experts said.
She was arrested by State Security authorities on 28 July 2015 and charged with “financing terrorism” after she helped raise funds for needy Syrian families in the UAE and war-affected women and children in Syria.
According to information received, Ms Abdulnour was held in secret detention and in solitary confinement for six months. She was subjected to severe physical and psychological humiliation and to threats, and forced to sign a written confession obtained under torture.
“We would l,ike to remind the United Arab Emirates that torture and ill-treatment is universally and absolutely prohibited and that any statement made as a result of torture shall not be invoked as evidence” the experts said.
Ms Abdulnour’s breast cancer has reached its final stage, and the disease has now spread to vital organs. In November 2018, her deteriorating health condition prompted the authorities to transfer her to Mafraq Hospital.
All requests by Ms Abdulnour’s family for a medical release have been rejected. The last request submitted a few weeks ago was followed instead by her transfer, on 10 January 2019, from Mafraq to Tawam hospital in Al Ain, where she reportedly continues to be denied appropriate medication to reduce her pain.
“We call on the authorities to release Ms Abdulnour and to allow her to live her last days of life in dignity and with her family at home”, said the experts. “We also call on the State to investigate alleged acts of torture and ill-treatment, and to prosecute the suspected perpetrator(s) in line with its obligations under international human rights law.”
* Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Pages/Home.aspx
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