UAE Says Syrians Expelled for Breaking the Law
The United Arab Emirates on Saturday defended a decision to expel Syrians who staged a protest against the Damascus regime, saying they had broken a pledge to abide by the country's laws.
"Like any nation the UAE expects all residents to abide by its laws," an unidentified foreign ministry official said in a statement obtained by Agence France Presse.
"A small group of Syrians violated these laws but the UAE, in a compassionate decision in view of events in Syria, had decided not to ask this group to leave the country and accepted their pledges to abide by the law in the future.
"Unfortunately some of those who made the pledge to follow regulations repeated the offence, forcing the authorities to implement the law governing such issues," he said.
"The UAE, which has some 200 nationalities residing on its land, has to remain vigilant during these turbulent times."
On Friday, Human Rights Watch urged Emirati authorities to retract a decision to expel dozens of Syrians who demonstrated against the Damascus regime last month.
"Emirati authorities should retract their decision to cancel the residency permits of dozens of Syrians who took part in a peaceful protest against the Syrian government in Dubai," HRW said in a statement.
Nearly 2,000 Syrians demonstrated outside the Syrian consulate in Dubai on February 10, according to opposition activists.
HRW said that UAE authorities had revoked the residency permits of about 50 Syrians for joining the protest, even though they "did not accuse the protesters of any acts of violence."
The watchdog said that Syrian nationals forced out of the UAE feared being returned to their country where their personal safety was significantly at risk.
It said 10 had already left with some going to Egypt, Jordan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
The UAE has strict conditions on demonstrations.
It has condemned the deadly crackdown on dissent in Syria, recalling its ambassador from Damascus and expelling Syrian envoys along with its other five partners in the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Source: Agence France Presse
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