Release Dr. Nasser bin Ghaith, wrongfully imprisoned for ten years
Posted August 18, 2025
Scholars at Risk sent the below letter to Emirati authorities, urging them to secure the immediate release of Dr. Nasser bin Ghaith. Take action by signing a letter here.
Via email
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid al-Maktoum
Vice-President and Prime Minister
Prime Minister’s Office
P.O. Box: 212000
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
August 18, 2025
RE: Release Dr. Nasser bin Ghaith, wrongfully imprisoned for ten years
Your Highness:
I write on behalf of Scholars at Risk to respectfully urge you to secure the immediate release of prominent economist and scholar, Dr. Nasser bin Ghaith. Today marks ten years since Dr. bin Ghaith was arrested on unsubstantiated charges in apparent retaliation for his peaceful exercise of the rights to free expression and association.
Scholars at Risk (SAR) is an international network of more than 600 universities and colleges in over 40 countries dedicated to protecting the human rights of scholars around the world, and raising awareness, understanding of, and respect for the principles of academic freedom and its constituent freedoms of expression, opinion, thought, association, and travel.
Dr. Nasser bin Ghaith is an economist, former lecturer at the University of Paris IV Abu Dhabi, and prominent human rights defender who was arrested in 2015 and charged with “committing a hostile act against a foreign state” and “posting false information in order to harm the reputation and stature of the state and one of its institutions.” The charges relate to a series of tweets in which he allegedly criticized the Egyptian regime, an ally of the UAE, for failing to hold anyone accountable for the 2013 Raba’a Square Massacre in Cairo, and claiming that he had not been granted a fair trial as part of the “UAE5” case. On March 29, 2017, Dr. bin Ghaith was convicted by the Abu Dhabi Court of Appeals and sentenced to ten years in prison.
More recently, in December 2023, the Abu Dhabi Federal Appeal Court issued new charges against 87 Emiratis, including Dr. bin Ghaith. On July 10, 2024, the Abu Dhabi Federal Appeals Court convicted and sentenced Dr. bin Ghaith, along with 40 other defendants, in a closed-door trial, to life in prison for “establishing and managing a clandestine terrorist organisation,” the ‘Justice and Dignity Committee,’ in 2010. No new evidence supporting the charges was provided. It has been reported that Emirati officials had coerced defendants into giving false statements, that their lawyers were prevented from accessing case files and court documents, and that allegations of serious abuse and ill-treatment have been made. The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders has denounced the new charges and called on the UAE to unconditionally release all human rights defenders in detention.
Since his initial conviction in 2017, reports indicate that prison authorities–most recently at Al-Razeen prison–have continually denied Dr. bin Ghaith medication for high blood pressure and proper medical care despite his visual impairment, inability to stand by himself, and other health concerns. Reports of abuse, torture, strip searches, sexual harassment, and denial of medical care in Al-Razeen prison remain common without investigation into such allegations. Authorities have also banned Dr. bin Ghaith from receiving family visits since September 2018.
We welcome any additional information that may clarify our understanding of these events. Absent this, the facts appear to indicate that Dr. bin Ghiath has been detained and sentenced in connection with his peaceful exercise of the right to freedom of expression and association–conduct that is expressly protected under international human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The nature of these charges, lack of new evidence, and reports of torture and abuse in prison raise grave concerns about whether Dr. bin Ghatih has been afforded due process, and about his treatment and well-being. A life sentence for what we can only assume–absent clear public evidence from the state–to be nonviolent expressive and associative conduct is clearly excessive and contrary to international standards.
We therefore respectfully urge you to secure the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. bin Ghaith and for any charges against him which stem from his peaceful exercise of the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association to be dropped. We ask that his well-being be ensured while in prison, and that his case is addressed in a manner consistent with internationally recognized standards of due process, fair trial, and the humane treatment of prisoners, in accordance with the United Arab Emirates’ obligations under international law.
Sincerely,
Robert Quinn
Executive Director
CC:
Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Deputy Prime Minister of the Interior
Zayed Sport City, Arab Gulf Street, Near to Shaikh Zayed Mosque
POB: 398, Abu Dhabi, UAE
The Honorable Marko Rubio
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520, USA
Ambassador Eric Gaudiosi
U.S. Embassy & Consulates in the United Arab of Emirates
Abu Dhabi Office
Airport Road at Rabdan (29th)
Street Embassies District,
Plot 38, Sector W59-02, Street No. 4
P.O. Box 4009
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba
Embassy of the United Arab of Emirates in Washington DC
3522 International Court, NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20008, USA
Her Excellency Amna Binzaal Almheiri
Embassy of the United Arab of Emirates in New York
305 East 47th Street, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10017, USA
The Honorable António Guterres
Secretary-General of the United Nations
The Honorable Volker Türk
High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais Wilson
52 rue des Pâquis
CH-1201 Geneva, Switzerland
The Honorable Mary Lawlor
United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
The Honorable Irene Khan
UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneve 10, Switzerland
Permanent Mission of the United ArabEmirates to the United Nations
58 Rue de Moillebeau, 1209 Geneva,Switzerland.