{"id":581,"date":"2021-09-03T22:43:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-03T21:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.avtuae.com\/en\/?p=581"},"modified":"2021-09-17T22:45:40","modified_gmt":"2021-09-17T21:45:40","slug":"they-told-us-they-hated-black-africans-uae-authorities-detain-torture-and-deport-over-800-migrants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.avtuae.com\/en\/?p=581","title":{"rendered":"\u201cThey Told Us They Hated Black Africans\u201d: UAE Authorities Detain, Torture, And Deport Over 800 Migrants"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Friday, 3 September 2021, 7:12 am<\/strong>
Press Release: Euro Med Monitor<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Geneva, London \u2013 <\/strong>Evidence released today from Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor and ImpACT International documents widespread state-sponsored violations of human rights on African migrant workers in the UAE. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the 24th and 25th June 2021 authorities kidnapped, illegally detained and tortured over 800 African migrant workers before their mass deportation. The report, compiling witness testimonies from over 20 victims, concludes that the attacks were planned, targeted and racially motivated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Victims estimate at least 800 workers were taken over the course of two nights, with an unknown number still under detention. The majority were deported despite valid residence visas and\/or work permits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The targeted arrests and deportations are ongoing across the Emirati\u2019s, as more testimonials of victims emerge daily. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The night of the arrests<\/strong><\/em> 
Emirati Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) raided five residential buildings in Abu Dhabi known to house African nationals in the early hours of the 24th and 25th June 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Testimonies report authorities destroying CCTV and Wi-Fi, before breaking into homes, destroying property and tasering and arresting individuals without charge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Individuals were forced from their homes, some in their underwear, permitted to take with them only their passports. During the raid authorities shouted racial abuse and sexually assaulted both men and women. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The workers, who were of many different nationalities within Africa, were then transported to al-Wathba prison, a prison complex 44km from Abu Dhabi, and detained without charge, in cells holding up to 60 people with just three bathrooms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Victims, who include pregnant women, report being chained by their hands and feet for up two weeks, having no access to sanitary and hygiene products and being refused medical attention. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The victims were interrogated, beaten, physically and psychologically tortured by the authorities, who questioned them about their legal status, profession, and salaries. Many were accused of prostitution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kenneth Rubangakene, a teacher from Uganda who spent 38 days in al-Wathba prison, said: <\/strong>\u201cWe were brutally prosecuted on the basis of skin colour. The police told us: we will not allow any of you to remain in the streets of Abu Dhabi. They told us that we stink. In prison stripped us naked. They laughed at us and confiscated our belongings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey wouldn\u2019t tell me why I was being arrested and made us sign legal papers in Arabic that we did not understand. I was terrified and angry.\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey threatened us with electric shocks and fed us only Arabic bread and rice. I saw someone shocked and beaten when he refused to comply with the demands of the authorities.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Detained workers were told that they would be brought to court, but this did not happen throughout their detention. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following 5 weeks of imprisonment, the African nationals began to be deported from the UAE. They were boarded on commercial flights, for which the UAE authorities faked Covid-19 tests. The migrant workers returned home in possession of only their phones and legal documents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reports from victims show repeated attempts to alert domestic governments, embassies and immigration officials, to no response. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In recent days, victims have reported viewing their jobs advertised online<\/a> now restricted to Asian-only nationality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe UAE have violated nine of its international human rights obligations enshrined in its constitution. But more importantly, they\u2019ve also destroyed the lives and livelihoods of over 800 individuals.\u201d said Michela Pugliese, Migration Researcher at Euro-Med Monitor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMake no mistake, this was a racially motivated mass human rights violation. And it\u2019s continuing within the UAE right now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is a dire need to bring justice to the victims. Equally so, it signals the urgent need to acknowledge and address the systemic racism in the country that has given way to such abhorrent and shocking treatment of human beings.\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Legal analysis finds that the nine potential human rights violated are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n