http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/07/16 ... nto-exile/
The United Arab Emirates has stripped an activist of citizenship and deported him to Thailand over his online campaign for reform in the Persian Gulf littoral state.
According to the London-based Emirates Center for Human Rights, Ahmed Abdul Khaleq was deported on Monday on a Comoros Islands passport arranged by UAE authorities.
Abdul Khaleq and four others, including blogger and rights advocate Ahmed Mansour and economics professor Nasser bin Ghaith, were arrested in April 2011 for signing an online petition demanding constitutional reforms and free elections in the UAE. They were convicted of committing crimes against the state.
UAE officials have revoked the citizenship of several other activists, who had called for reforms, but it was not clear whether Abu Dhabi will seek to carry out any more deportations.
A 2009 report showed that the Arab emirates has struck a USD 200 million deal with the government of Comoros to provide passports for people it makes stateless.
HM/HGH/AZ