Urgent Letter on Human Rights UAE to Prime Minister Takaichi

A coalition of human rights organisations has issued an urgent letter to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ahead of the state visit by Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Japan from February 8–10, 2026. The correspondence highlights longstanding and serious human rights violations committed by the government of the United Arab Emirates, urging Japan’s leadership to address these concerns both privately and in public dialogue during bilateral meetings. The letter was issued by Human Rights Watch , an independent organisation that monitors and reports on abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law across more than 90 countries worldwide. UAE Military Support to RSF and Sudan Since the outbreak of conflict in Sudan in April 2023, United Nations experts and human rights groups have documented the United Arab Emirates supplying military support to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), despite its widespread involvement in war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing in the Darfur region. Investigations indicate that the RSF has used weapons previously controlled by the UAE military, contributing to grave violations against civilians. Human Rights Watch is calling on Japan to press UAE authorities to use their influence to restrain the RSF’s actions and ensure compliance with international humanitarian norms. Continued Repression and Arbitrary Detentions Human Rights Watch’s reporting also details the UAE’s suppression of domestic dissent over many years. In July 2013, at least 69 government critics were subjected to mass trials lacking due process. Similarly, in December 2023, 84 activists, dissidents, and human rights defenders were targeted in another mass prosecution tied to the formation of an independent advocacy group. Among those unjustly imprisoned is Ahmed Mansoor, a prominent rights defender and Martin Ennals Award laureate, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison in March 2017 after a deeply flawed trial. During his incarceration, Mansoor faced prolonged solitary confinement and other treatment widely condemned as cruel, inhuman, or degrading — conditions that multiple United Nations experts have described as tantamount to torture. On November 19, 2025, one of the defendants from the 2023 mass trial, Ali al-Khaja, died in custody at al-Razeen Prison, a facility notorious for its harsh conditions. The UAE’s cybercrimes legislation is frequently wielded to silence journalists, activists, and government critics, criminalising online expression and permitting invasive surveillance. Domestic laws also criminalise consensual behaviour — including nonmarital sex, same-sex relations, and abortion — disproportionately affecting women and LGBTQ+ individuals . Migrant Worker Abuses and Environmental Concerns Despite heavy reliance on migrant labour, the UAE’s kafala sponsorship system ties workers’ visas to employers, facilitating abuses such as wage theft, exorbitant recruitment fees, passport confiscation, and insufficient workplace protections. Migrant workers from climate-vulnerable countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan also face heightened risk from extreme heat and inadequate safety measures. Environmental rights advocates have further criticised the UAE’s fossil fuel operations for exacerbating toxic air pollution and contributing to global climate instability. Key Takeaways & Next Steps UAE authorities have advanced policies that stifle dissent, including arbitrary trials and prolonged solitary confinement. Migrant workers face systemic labour abuses under the kafala system, with inadequate protections and exploitative conditions. Cybercrimes and morality laws are used to suppress expression and target vulnerable populations. Japan has a diplomatic opportunity to press for respect for international human rights commitments. Increased scrutiny of UAE support to armed groups in Sudan is essential to prevent further violations.

Urgent Letter on Human Rights UAE to Prime Minister Takaichi

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