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April 27, 2011

Obama Meets with UAE Crown Prince Despite Human Rights Criticisms 
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President Barack Obama welcomed the Crown Prince of the United Arab
Emirates to the White House on Tuesday, despite criticism from human
rights groups over the UAE's recent crackdown on dissidents. Several
prominent Emirati human rights activists and academics have been
arrested over the past month, including Ahmed Mansoor, who has been held
since April 8. Mansoor has been a leading proponent of a petition
submitted last month demanding democratic reforms. The UAE is also
facing criticism for recently dissolving the Jurist Association, a legal
organization that has backed the reform movement. The UAE, a federation
of seven emirates headed by ruling families, does not allow direct
elections or political parties. It is the world's third-largest oil
exporter. President Obama issued no statement on Tuesday about the human
rights situation in the UAE.



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