London’s Angry Protest Says UAE Rulers War/ Climate Criminals
The British capital, London, witnessed mass demonstrations against the UAE regime, describing it as “war criminal”, amid calls to boycott Abu Dhabi and impose international sanctions on it for its violations and aggressive policies.
Human rights activists, who participated in the demonstration, demanded the need to cancel the COP28 climate conference, scheduled for the end of this year in the UAE, and not allow it to host these events to whiten its dark reputation.
The demonstrators raised pictures of UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his deputy, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, on which were written “war criminals who must be tried,” as well as banners denouncing the UAE’s violations and calling for a boycott.
This comes after hundreds of international organizations refused to hold the COP 28 climate conference in the UAE, considering the holding of the conference there as a “disgrace”, especially in light of the appointment of a prominent Emirati oil official as the president of the conference.
The non-governmental organizations condemned the appointment of the head of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Sultan Al Jaber, as president of the Conference of the Parties on Climate, which will start its work next November, which sparked widespread criticism among activists.
The organizations confirmed that Al-Jaber’s appointment to head the Climate Conference of the Parties (COP28) to be held in the UAE threatens the “legitimacy” of the meeting.
“The decision threatens the legitimacy and efficacy of COP28,” NGOs and civil society organizations around the world said in an open letter.
They added that “it is not a matter of celebration,” in a letter addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, and the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, under which all climate negotiations take place, according to international agencies.
“If we have any hope of dealing with the climate crisis, every COP conference should be free from the polluting influence of the fossil fuel sector,” the letter added.
The UAE is trying to use COP28 to paint itself as a tolerant oasis of sustainable development and green energy, while continuing to promote the interests of the oil industry and fossil fuels. After the UAE obtained the COP28 presidency it quickly hired a number of expensive U.S. PR firms, apparently to promote its role as host.
The UAE’s record of severe repression and complete closure of the space for free expression, association, and assembly also raises grave concerns about how independent members of civil society can meaningfully participate in the COP28 conference.