Rights Watch: UAE holds anti-regime rebels

WASHINGTON, April 26 (UPI) -- The regime of Abu Dhabi's crown prince, who will meet with President Barack Obama in Washington, detained five pro-reform activists, Human Rights Watch said.

The government of Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the UAE's de facto president, is investigating the five for "opposing the government" and "insulting" top officials in what HRW Monday called an "ongoing crackdown down on peaceful dissent."

"The UAE is punishing peaceful criticism by investigating activists for 'opposing the government,'" said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director of the non-governmental organization. "This shows how far the UAE has to go to become a rights-respecting country.

"All those being detained for speaking out against abuses should be immediately released," she said.

One of the five arrested is Ahmed Mansoor, a vocal proponent of democratic reforms and a member of HRW's Middle East advisory committee, the group said. He was arrested April 8 and placed in Abu Dhabi's al-Wathba prison, the group said.

Two days later security forces detained University of Paris economics lecturer Nasser bin Ghaith, teaching at the university's Abu Dhabi branch, after he criticized UAE authorities for not making significant political reforms, HRW said.

Authorities also arrested three online activists -- Fahad Salim Dalk, Hassan Ali al-Khamis, and Ahmed Abdul Khaleq, the organization said.

The investigation follows the UAE government's removal Thursday of the board of the civil-rights group the Jurist Association, replacing it with state appointees, after the group signed a petition calling for political reforms, HRW said.

The UAE, a key U.S. ally in the Persian Gulf, and Nahyan had no immediate comment on either allegation.

The White House said Monday night Obama "looks forward to discussing with the crown prince the strong ties between the United States and the UAE and our common strategic interests in the region" when the two leaders meet Tuesday.

White House spokesman Jay Carney called the UAE Gulf federation bordering Oman and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Iran, a "very helpful partner." He said the two leaders would likely "talk about broader issues, as well as specifically Libya."

Nahyan is also deputy supreme commander of the UAE armed forces.