UAE: African workers deported after due legal process, clarifies ministry

Abu Dhabi - The action is based on evidence that proves the defendants were part of a human trafficking organisation

The UAE Ministry of Interior has called upon the media not to circulate or disseminate any information not published by the relevant authorities, explaining that the deportation of African workers was carried out in accordance with legal procedures.

Moreover, this was based on conclusive and documented evidence that these organisations, which are prostitution networks, were involved in human trafficking offences, indecent acts, and extortion and assault cases that threaten the security of society.

The Ministry noted in a statement that many complaints had been received in the region about the issue of the arrest, detention, and deportation of African workers.

In this regard, the Ministry wishes to clarify that the arrests that took place on June 24 and 25 involving 376 women and men were carried out as part of legal procedures to address crimes related to human trafficking and cases of harm to women and extortion, assault, and acts contrary to public morality.

Those arrested were found to be involved in these crimes, as the UAE was proactive in enacting a comprehensive law to combat human trafficking and preserve the rights of all groups of society in a way that protects victims and punishes violators of their rights while deterring those who commit such crimes.

The UAE takes these crimes seriously and responsibly in order to protect society and victims from these crimes, stressing that the measures taken were in accordance with international legal standards and coordinated with the embassies of the countries to which those involved belong.

The statement noted that the necessary precautionary measures were adopted in accordance with the Covid-19 pandemic with regards to social distancing and the regular testing of detainees in order to provide all forms of support to detainees to ensure their physical and psychological safety.

Moreover, the detainees and the mechanism of dealing with them and the charges against them were reviewed by ambassadors of friendly countries concerned with the detainees, noting that a large number of them were deported, with the remaining 50 individuals lacking the appropriate travel documents.

The statement stressed that the UAE and its institutions are committed to full transparency in dealing with these issues, noting that they are surprised that the authors of the report and that which was circulated by the media did not refer to the relevant authorities in the country to investigate the accuracy of the matter.

International organisations following the issue should have communicated with the relevant authorities, as these allegations were inconsistent with the legal foundations of the UAE's criminal justice system, and UAE legislation is based on justice, equality and the preservation of human dignity.

Moreover, the Ministry categorically denied the report's racist suggestions, stressing that the UAE adopts strict laws and practices with regards to non-discrimination in all cases.

• Abu Dhabi