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The pressure is growing on the UK government to secure reassurances from the UAE government regarding the safety and protection of British citizens who participate in peaceful protests during the COP28 UN climate summit in Dubai.
This week, British human rights barristers wrote a letter to the foreign secretary, James Cleverly, urging him to seek a commitment from the Emirati authorities to safeguard the rights and well-being of UK citizens engaging in demonstrations at the summit.
Campaigners have expressed concerns about the UAE’s limitations on freedom of expression, which could hinder activists’ ability to stage meaningful protests and subject them to potential detention.
In a joint statement with the UN, the UAE recently promised to provide space for climate activists to assemble peacefully and voice their concerns during COP28.
However, human rights groups remain skeptical of the UAE’s commitment, with Amnesty International questioning the actual scope of the authorities’ allowances.
In the past, the UAE has faced criticism for cracking down on activists before COP summits and failing to allocate sufficient space for protests.
Representing an anonymous human rights activist, barristers Ben Keith and Rhys Davies highlighted the inadequacy of the accommodations offered by the Emirati regime and expressed concerns over the safety of protesters.
They cited previous instances where dissidents were arrested and the UAE government suppressed protests critical of corporations.
The choice to host the next UN climate change summit in the oil-rich Gulf state has been controversial, particularly due to the appointment of the head of Abu Dhabi’s state-owned oil company as the president of COP28.
The UAE state oil company recently advanced its net zero carbon emissions target but plans to increase oil production capacity in the future.
In their letter, Keith and Davies called on Cleverly to clarify the government’s efforts to protect the rights of UK citizens participating in peaceful protests at COP28 and requested specific travel advice for Britons attending the summit.
The Foreign Office, which has faced criticism for its handling of previous cases, including that of Matthew Hedges, a British academic arrested in the UAE, referred to its existing travel advice for the UAE when asked to comment on the situation.
The UAE foreign ministry has not yet responded to requests for comment.
COP organisers emphasized the importance of providing an inclusive, transparent, and respectful environment for all participants, ensuring space for climate activists to assemble peacefully and voice their concerns.
Additional reporting by Simeon Kerr
Climate Capital
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