The Arab Organisation for Human Rights in the UK (AOHR UK) has condemned the arrest of Emirati political activist, Jassem Rashid Al-Shamsi, by Syrian security forces in Damascus on Thursday, 6 November 2025. A statement by the organisation said the arrest was carried out without a judicial warrant or formal charge, and was followed by his enforced disappearance.
The AOHR UK noted that Al-Shamsi, who had previously been sentenced to life imprisonment in the UAE for peacefully advocating political reform and fundamental freedoms, has committed no offence beyond exercising his right to free expression and defending the legitimate aspirations of Arab peoples. The organisation added that Al-Shamsi was among the voices who stood in solidarity with the Syrian people since the outbreak of the 2011 revolution, supporting their pursuit of dignity, justice and self-determination.
According to the AOHR UK, “the UAE government has consistently positioned itself as one of the most aggressive adversaries of democratic transformation in the region, actively working to undermine or reverse the outcomes of popular uprisings in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Syria, regardless of cost. These interventions have contributed to widespread repression, the killing of thousands, and the imprisonment of countless others who remain in detention under harsh and abusive conditions.”
The AOHR UK demanded “the immediate and unconditional disclosure of Jassem Al-Shamsi’s fate and whereabouts, guarantees of his physical and psychological safety, and an unequivocal refusal to engage in any transfer or extradition arrangements with the UAE.”
The organisation further urged Syrian authorities to uphold their ethical responsibilities, honour the sacrifices of the Syrian people, and reject any role in the cross-border targeting of Arab dissidents. “Failure to do so,” the AOHR UK warned, “will be remembered as a new and grievous stain on Syria’s human rights record and a disheartening indication that no lessons have been drawn from the tragedies of its recent history.”
READ: AOHR UK calls on British Gov’t to sanction GHF officials
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