Detention and Deportation: The Struggle of Palestine Supporters in the UAE

The UAE is witnessing a significant decline in voices supporting the Palestinian people, with muted condemnation of Israeli crimes against civilians in Gaza, according to human rights groups.

This comes at a time when global solidarity with the Palestinian people is mounting due to the genocidal attacks by the Israeli occupation since October 7th. Protests against Israeli crimes have gained momentum, reaching American and European universities.

Advocacy groups report that initial tolerance shown by UAE authorities towards social media posts supporting the Palestinian cause has gradually faded, replaced by threats, summons, and deportations.

According to the advocacy center, this shift has instilled fear among supporters of the Palestinian cause, leaving them hesitant to express sympathy or condemn Israeli occupation crimes.

Since October 7th, the “Advocacy Center for Detainees in the UAE” documented the arrest and summoning of numerous citizens and residents, both Emirati and foreign, for expressing anti-Israeli sentiments or supporting Palestinian resistance on social media.

One case involved a Jordanian citizen of Palestinian origin working in the UAE, who was summoned by state security over a social media post praising Palestinian resistance. He was interrogated for hours and cautioned against further expressions, although he was eventually released after being informed that sympathizing with the Palestinian cause was tolerated, but endorsing resistance was prohibited.

Another incident involved a Palestinian resident managing a WhatsApp group in the UAE. She received a call from state security instructing her to censor Palestinian-related posts. Faced with deletion of the group or disabling comments, she chose the latter, effectively restricting group interactions.

In December, the center documented another case of an Jordanian resident in the UAE detained for seven days and subsequently deported to Jordan for tweeting about Palestine.

The center interviewed several UAE-based workers of Arab nationality, many expressing fear but confirming that general sympathy towards Palestine was not outright banned. However, there was confusion about permissible boundaries.

According to one worker, solidarity in general terms or religious prayers for Palestine were acceptable, but explicit support such as boycotting Israeli or American goods could lead to arrest or summoning.

The center reported cases between November and December last year, with additional incidents highlighted by the Euro-Mediterranean Observatory for Human Rights in March and April. They detailed deportations over social media posts related to the Palestinian issue.

One instance involved a Jordanian citizen of Palestinian origin working in Dubai for five years, interrogated by state security on April 10th over Facebook posts condemning Israeli military attacks and genocide in Gaza. Following questioning focused on his expressions, he was released three days later and immediately deported without legal recourse.

Another case in March concerned an Egyptian citizen questioned for posts criticizing Arab and Islamic stances on Gaza’s famine, and calling for an end to normalization with Israel. He was fired from his local company and given 48 hours to leave the country without legal recourse.

The report revealed instances of intimidation within UAE universities, with directives issued to prevent any protests against Israel and threats of dismissal for academics and student activists who defy these orders.

In conclusion, while global solidarity with the Palestinian people grows, the UAE’s stance takes a starkly different path. Initially tolerant attitudes towards pro-Palestinian social media posts have shifted to harsh measures of threats, summons, and deportations against those expressing support for Palestinians or criticizing Israeli occupation.

These actions have spread fear among residents and citizens, discouraging them from expressing sympathy towards the Palestinian cause. The documented increase in summonings and arrests underscores this escalating trend.