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Scholars at Risk calls for letters on behalf of Professor Nasser bin Ghaith of the UAE

Scholars at Risk calls for letters on behalf of Professor Nasser bin Ghaith of the UAE

April 15, 2011

Scholars at Risk (SAR) isgravely concerned for Dr. Nasser bin Ghaith, a scholar and lecturer ofeconomics at the Abu Dhabi branch of France’s Paris-Sorbonne University.  SAR asks for letters, faxes and emails urgingthe appropriate authorities to intervene in Dr. bin Ghaith’s case, to directthe government to disclose his whereabouts and condition, and to ensure hiswell-being—including regular access to family, to legal counsel of his choosingand to medical treatment—pending his earliest release. 

Scholars at Risk is aninternational network of over 250 universities and colleges in 30 countriesdedicated to promoting academic freedom and its constituent freedoms ofthought, opinion, expression, association and travel.  In cases like Dr. bin Ghaith’s involvingalleged infringement of these freedoms, Scholars at Risk investigates hoping toclarify and resolve matters favorably.

According to publishedreports, state security forces in Dubai detained Dr. bin Ghaith on Sunday,April 10, 2011 and are holding him in an undisclosed location without anypublic statement of charges against him or other explanation for his arrest.  It has been reported that his detention islikely related to recent statements he reportedly made criticizing governmentauthorities for failing to undertake significant political reform.  If these are reports are true, Dr. binGhaith’s detention would be a clear violation of internationally recognizedstandards of free expression, due process, fair trial and detention, asenshrined in the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights and manysubsequent instruments.  Moreover, iftrue, Dr. bin Ghaith’s detention without cause, especially if it were tocontinue, would be a serious and unfortunate blow to the many good efforts ofthe government and others to develop the Emirates’ reputation and position as acenter of knowledge, education and culture, as these can only flourish inplaces which respect intellectual inquiry, free expression and humanrights. 

Scholars at Risk thereforejoins with many national and international academic associations, human rightsorganizations and individual scholars in respectfully urging authorities tointervene in Dr. bin Ghaith’s case, to direct the government to disclose hiswhereabouts and condition, and to ensure his well-being—including regularaccess to family, to legal counsel of his choosing and to medicaltreatment—pending his earliest release. 

Scholars at Risk invitesletters, emails and faxes be sent:

-respectfully urgingauthorities to direct the government to disclose Dr. bin Ghaith’s whereaboutsand condition; and

-respectfully urgingauthorities to ensure his well-being pending his earliest release, includingensuring regular access to family, to legal counsel of his choosing and tomedical treatment.

PLEASE WRITE TO:

Shaikh Mohammad bin RashidAl-Maktoum

Co-Chair of the HigherNational Security Council

Vice-President and PrimeMinister

Office of the Prime Minister

POB 2838

Dubai

United Arab Emirates

Fax: +971 (4) 353-1974

COPIES TO:

His Excellency Lt-GeneralSheikh 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 SheikhAbdullah bin Zayed Al Nahya

Minister of Foreign Affairs

POB 1

Abu Dhabi

United Arab Emirates

Fax: +971 (2) 444-7766

The Honorable _________

Ambassador of United ArabEmirates to [YOUR COUNTRY]

[POSTAL ADDRESS]

[FAX]

[EMAIL]

(See http://www.mofa.gov.ae/mofa_english/portal/7d85d759-79c7-4019-879d-0bcf7252b8ef.aspxfor a list of UAE embassies worldwide.)

The Honorable _________

Ambassador of [YOUR COUNTRY]to the United Arab Emirates

[POSTAL ADDRESS]

[FAX]

[EMAIL]

Scholars at Risk

New York University

194 Mercer Street, 4th floor

New York, NY 10012 USA

Fax: +1 (212) 995-4402

Email: scholarsatrisk@nyu.edu

To view a model letter ofappeal, as well as a copy of SAR’s letter, please visit: http://scholarsatrisk.nyu.edu/Education-Advocacy/Alerts-Scholars-in-Prison.php.

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