Waleed Al-Shehhi
Detained: May 11, 2013.
Charges: Using information technology "with the intent of inciting to actions, or publishing or disseminating any information, news, caricatures or other images liable to endanger security and its higher interests or infringe on the public order.
Sentence: Unknown.
Biography: Waleed Al-Shehhi is a blogger and human rights activist who has been charged under the new cybercrime law in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Al-Shehhi was arrested on May 11, 2013 and then placed in secret detention before being transferred to Al-Wathaba prison. Al-Shehhi is being charged under article 28 of the cybercrime law for having disseminated on his Twitter account information about the trial of 94 UAE citizens, also known as the "UAE94" case. Article 28 of the cybercrime law allows for imprisonment and a fine of up to one million dirhams (approximately 272 000 USD), for anyone who uses information technology "with the intent of inciting to actions, or publishing or disseminating any information, news, caricatures or other images liable to endanger security and its higher interests or infringe on the public order." Violations are defined as crimes against the state, with no appeal allowed. Foreign media and international observers have been barred from the 13 trial sessions for the "UAE94," with only handpicked representatives of the national media being granted access into the courtroom.
Waleed Al-Shehhi was RELEASED on May 14, 2015.
Updates:
- On 14 May 2015, human rights defender and internet activist Waleed Al-Shehhi was released (Gulf Center for Human Rights).