An Emirati woman imprisoned after raising money for needy Syrians has reportedly died, reports London-based Middle East Eye. Alia Abdulnoor died in the Tawam hospital in Al Ain. She was suffering from breast cancer.
According to reports, Abdulnoor was serving a 10-year sentence over terrorism charges. The conviction relates to her work raising money online for Syrian women and children, both in the United Arab Emirates and in war-torn Syria, the report adds.
Campaigners and the United Nations have said Abdulnoor disappeared for six months following her arrest, and was held in solitary confinement. According to the UN, she was subjected to intense psychological and physical humiliation, and was forced to sign a false confession under torture.
According to her family, she had cancer before she was arrested and then began suffering from osteoporosis and liver fibrosis. In February, a panel of United Nations experts said she was reportedly being held in a windowless, unventilated room, and was chained to a bed under armed guard.
“We are extremely concerned about the physical and mental integrity of Ms Abdulnoor, and about reports that the conditions of detention are causing her unnecessary pain,” the experts said in a statement at the time.
According to the London-based International Campaign for Freedom in the United Arab Emirates, there are currently more than 200 political prisoners in the UAE.