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October 3, 2011

United Arab Emirates Activists, Bloggers Face Trial 
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Five political activists and bloggers being tried in the United Arab
Emirates on charges of insulting the country's leaders refused to attend
a court hearing on Sunday protesting against alleged mistreatment. Samer
Muscati is an officer with Human Rights Watch Officer.

Samer Muscati, Human Rights Watch Officer: "The activists didn't show
up, they feel by participating in the trial they are actually giving the
trial legitimacy and so far none of their concerns have been met except
for opening the trial, the evidence that had been used against the
activists has actually not been shown to the activists, they don't know
exactly what the evidence is against them. The lawyers have not had a
chance to cross examine the witnesses. They have been held in prison for
almost six months now and they have no right to appeal. So there is
really some fundamental problems with the quality of justice in this
case and I think that the accused realise that by showing up or not
showing up, perhaps the judgement will be the same and it's already been
written."



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