Authoritarianism – FairSquare

Manchester’s political leaders should use influence to call for release of detained UAE activists

A coalition of five human rights NGOs has urged Manchester City Council to make a public call on the government of the United Arab Emirates to release Ahmed Mansoor and others in the UAE who have been unfairly imprisoned for expressing criticism of its government.

Urgent appeal to UN on case of Alaa Abd El-Fattah

FairSquare has joined 33 other human rights organisations in writing to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) to consider and announce their opinion on Alaa Abd El-Fattah’s case at the earliest opportunity.

Exporting Authoritarianism: new UAE briefing

FairSquare today released a briefing paper examining how the UAE has used its oil and gas revenues to finance an interventionist and ruinous foreign policy, most notably in the Middle East and North Africa.

Five year anniversary vigil for Jamal Khashoggi

On 2 October, FairSquare will join partner organisations ALQST for Human Rights, English PEN, and RSF UK, in holding a candle-lit vigil for Jamal Khashoggi outside the Saudi Arabian embassy in London, five years after his state-sponsored murder. The vigil will mark Jamal’s life and legacy, and support ongoing calls for justice.

Climate movement must be aware of the threats the UAE poses ahead of COP28

A trio of human rights organisations today released a new briefing that looks to highlight the threats that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) poses to the aims of the climate justice movement in advance of the country’s hosting of COP28.

100+ UK Parliamentarians write to Foreign Office on case of Alaa Abd el-Fattah

A letter signed by more than 100 MPs and members of the House of Lords was today submitted to the UK Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, to urge fresh approaches on the case of British-Egyptian pro-democracy writer Alaa Abd el-Fattah.

Lack of civic leadership has enabled Manchester and Newcastle sportswashing projects

FairSquare report provides further evidence of the harms of state ownership of football clubs

A new report published today finds that political leaders in Manchester and Newcastle have not only declined multiple opportunities to use their positions of influence to express criticism of serious and systematic human rights abuses in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, but have effectively assisted these two deeply abusive and profoundly anti-democratic states’ efforts to set up ‘soft power enclaves’ in cities with proud histories of protest and dissent.

Climate movement must switch on to UAE threat

In this article for Climate Home News, FairSquare director James Lynch explores the relationship between fossil fuel extraction and authoritarianism in the UAE, and the threat this poses to the planet.

Joint statement ahead of COP28 in the UAE

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) continue their sustained assault on human rights and freedoms, including targeting human rights activists, enacting repressive laws, and using the criminal justice system as a tool to eliminate the human rights movement. These policies have led to the closure of civic space, severe restrictions on freedom of expression, both online and offline, and the criminalisation of peaceful dissent.

New report on Dutch government, business and human rights in authoritarian states

A new Amnesty International report, produced with the assistance of FairSquare, has found that the Dutch government has incentivized Dutch companies to do business in China, Saudi Arabia and Russia without ensuring human rights due diligence responsibilities are met.