VOA标准英语2011--UAE Activists Jailed for Criticizing Government

UAE Activists¹ Jailed for Criticizing Government

 

The Supreme² Court in the United Arab Emirates has sentenced five political activists to prison for publicly criticizing the country’s leaders.

The defendants³ were arrested in April for making various comments, and they appeared in court several times, mostly behind closed doors.

Prominent blogger Ahmed Mansour received the longest sentence - three years. He faced additional charges of inciting⁴ others to break the law, advocating an election boycott⁵ and promoting demonstrations⁶. The other men received two-year jail terms.

Rights groups described the trial as unfair, saying the defendants were forbidden to review the evidence and charges against them.

The five have been reported on a hunger strike and did not attend their sentencing.

Samer Muscati from Human Rights Watch described the outcome as disappointing. "It’s really unfortunate what happened today and I think it really brings into disrepute the criminal justice system in the UAE," Muscati stated.

Noemie Crottaz from the Geneva-based human rights group Alkarama also was in Abu Dhabi for the sentencing. "It’s a shame for the country that things are going this way," Crottaz said. "And I think we’ll be seeing that the situation for freedom of expression may be getting worse as a reaction to the Arab Spring."

Samer Muscati, a researcher with Human Rights Watch, speaks to Reuters about the conviction of five political activists outside the federal supreme court in Abu Dhabi, November 27, 2011.

The UAE has largely avoided anti-government protests seen in other parts of the Middle East, and many analysts⁷ believe the court’s decision on Sunday was meant to signal that the government will not tolerate any type of political dissent⁸.

Dozens of government supporters, including 29-year-old Thabet Al-Qaissieh, were rallying outside the courtroom when the verdict was announced. "Two frequent comments I heard today were: 'justice has been served' and 'we expect the president to pardon them very soon,'" he said.

Earlier this year, the UAE sent troops to neighboring Bahrain to help quell⁹ pro-democracy demonstrations that brought the island kingdom to a standstill.

1 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

3 defendants   

被告( defendant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The courts heard that the six defendants had been coerced into making a confession. 法官审判时发现6位被告人曾被迫承认罪行。
• As in courts, the defendants are represented by legal counsel. 与法院相同，被告有辩护律师作为代表。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

4 inciting   

刺激的，煽动的

参考例句：

• What are you up to inciting mutiny and insubordination? 你们干吗在这里煽动骚动的叛乱呀。
• He was charged with inciting people to rebel. 他被控煽动民众起来叛乱。

5 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

6 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

7 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

8 dissent   

n./v.不同意，持异议

参考例句：

• It is too late now to make any dissent.现在提出异议太晚了。
• He felt her shoulders gave a wriggle of dissent.他感到她的肩膀因为不同意而动了一下。

9 quell   

v.压制，平息，减轻

参考例句：

• Soldiers were sent in to quell the riots.士兵们被派去平息骚乱。
• The armed force had to be called out to quell violence.不得不出动军队来镇压暴力行动。