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Since 2007 UAE LAW Directory has been following the well-orchestrated and somewhat successful campaign to defame and discredit the only recognized Human Rights Advocate in the United Arab Emirates fighting human trafficking since 1991.

Mrs. Sharla Musabih, named one of the Top 20 Most Influential Women in the UAE in 2008 http://www.thenational.ae/article/2008992306773 and her grassroots organization CITY OF HOPE, were recently recognized by the U.S. Government as a 501c3 non-profit entity focused on assisting the victims of human trafficking, and shortly thereafter renamed UNITED HOPE UAE license #26-3962442
 http://www.sos.wa.gov/charities/search_detail.aspx?charity_id=28219   

In 2010, UAE LAW DIRECTORY will be highlighting each of these stories that attempt to defame and discredit Mrs. Musabih, the United Hope UAE organization and the team of volunteers on the frontline of this fight. 

We will be listing the authors, their media outlet and/or the agencies directly or indirectly involved.  After each of said articles, we will list comments directly from international leaders in the fight against trafficking, including: 

The United Arab Emirates National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking, Chairperson Dr. Anwar Gargash,
www.nccht.gov.ae  


The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Chairperson Naela Gabr,
www.ohchr.org


The U.S. State Department, Trafficking In Persons.
Ambassador Lou DeBaca
www.state.gov/g/tip/



The NOT FOR SALE international NGO, founder David Batstone
www.notforsalecampaign.org




Please check back regularly, all comments will be printed on this page, directly below the link to articles. 

This is called:  ACCOUNTABILITY.

http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/docs/Mafiwasta_E.pdf
UAE Country report by Mafiwasta - for the U.N. Committee on Discrimination Against Women..........pages 30-32 outline the defamation targeted against CITY OF HOPE in Dubai.

http://emirateseconomist.blogspot.com/2008/03/domestic-violence.html 
EMIRATES ECONOMIST - Story starts with the Dubai Police Chief stating Sharla Musabih has psychological problems...........

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/23/world/middleeast/23dubai.html
NY TIMES article highlighting defamation campaign against CITY OF HOPE shelter, the first and only NGO shelter for the victims of human trafficking

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/housing-property/lone-women-s-shelter-wants-official-status-1.335813  CITY OF HOPE denied license to operate in 2004

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/three-women-accuse-owner-of-the-city-of-hope-of-selling-their-babies-1.105897
“Three women accuse owner of the City of Hope of selling their babies”

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/crime/american-teacher-convicted-of-lying-in-dubai-court-1.517647
Mrs. Musabih acquitted of charges of “selling babies” - January 2010

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/crime/dubai-based-activist-wins-recognition-1.309082
Dubai Police honor CITY OF HOPE in 2005

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/more-rooms-for-women-s-home-1.469921
Official merger between CITY OF HOPE and the Dubai Foundation.............within 48 hours of opening Afra Al Basti, CEO of the Foundation had Mrs. Musabih fired.

http://gulfnews.com/life-style/people/rescued-child-jockey-finds-a-home-1.444861
Mrs. Musabih successful work with UAE authorities to save camel jockey children

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/children-s-shelter-planned-in-dubai-1.340747
The initial stages of setting up a UAE licensed shelter for trafficking victims

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/our-hard-work-is-being-recognised-1.165982
UAE Women of Influence 2008

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/i-had-nowhere-else-to-go-this-is-the-only-place-i-and-other-women-have-1.228153
2006 license being “considered” by UAE government

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/government/rights-body-has-failed-complainants-1.170603
2006 human rights abuses not being addressed

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/media/website-remark-on-mother-teresa-of-dubai-not-objective-says-official-1.96802
“Some foreign media have the habit of taking up trivial issues and blowing them up which raises the question of objectivity” - reference to UAE LAW DIRECTORY

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/housing-property/lone-women-s-shelter-wants-official-status-1.335813
Request to be licensed in the UAE started prior to 2004

 

Please excuse our bad translation of this article    The article was published on January 25, 2010 and interviews Ms. Afra al Basti - CEO of the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children:    http://www.albayan.ae/servlet/Satellite?c=Article&cid=1250781794065&pagename=Albayan%2FArticle%2FFullDetail 

Excerpt:
Basti - Sharla demanding the disclosure of charitable funds

In response to what they saw as the Executive Director of Dubai Establishment for Women and Children Afra Al Basti, that the ongoing offensive to Dubai, by Charla Misbah and accusing it of continuing without any document or evidence, she said Afra Al Basti: I do not want to go into detail, which everyone knows about, and poor management of Misbah House «hope», but from reading their statements to find many errors, even when asked to disclose sources of funding and the entrances to the house, refused to detect it, but did not disclose the amounts taken, many of them under umbrellas umbrella charity event, which was established outcome 300 thousand dirhams. The question to be asked, Where is that money taken?, As well as everyone knows how the exploitation of inmates in Dar es «Hope», the ex-inmates accused Sharla trading their experiences, by allowing foreign media photographed, and narrate their stories in return for money, and large excesses and dangerous, which included the sale of newborn infants in the interest of foreign families, all attempts are well known and open to everyone, and here we do not want to give these women a greater volume of them, but they should be aware of the fact is that the UAE is a tall, does not affect a claim from envious or corrupt .

Please visit this webpage during the month of February 2010 as we expect this defamation campaign will be ratcheted up significantly. 

We remind those involved that ACCOUNTABILITY for your written words and actions is now an international matter of grave concern.

Thank you.
- Phil Cenedella, CTA   +1.888.206.3264

From: Philip J. Cenedella <phil@uaelawdirectory.com>
To: registry@ohchr.org
Cc: Lou DeBaca STATE TIP <CdeBacaL@state.gov>; Dr. Gargosh NCHHT <agargash@mfnca.gov.ae>; David Batstone Not For Sale Campaign <batstoned@notforsalecampaign.org>;  Peter McCloud VOA <assignments-editors@voa.gov>
Sent: Mon, January 25, 2010 7:12:47 AM
Subject: URGENT: Please forward to Chairperson Naela Gabr - UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
25 Jan 10
Dear Chairperson Gabr -
Prior to tomorrow's meeting with the delegation from the UAE, I request the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women address the defamation campaign lodged against the only NGO in the United Arab Emirates; United Hope UAE and its founder Mrs. Sharla Musabih.

As you know, Mrs. Musabih has been in self-exile since 2008, but her work continues and becomes more urgent by the day.  The defamation campaign against her organization is summarized on our webpage:   http://www.uaelawdirectory.com/html/defamation.html   We consider this campaign a coordinated effort  to stymie the fight against trafficking in the UAE.  Al Jazeera even reported on the severity of the human trafficking issue there, please view the video on www.uaelawdirectory.com

Our specific requests are:

1- Have Dr. Gargash comment on the articles listed on the defamation page  http://www.uaelawdirectory.com/html/defamation.html and publicly state that United Hope UAE, an international NGO, is an active participant in the fight in the UAE.

2- Have Dr. Gargash reply to our OPEN LETTER delivered to his office and all attendees at last year's human trafficking conference at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Bahrain. The five specific action items listed, which are still valid, are listed on our page:   http://www.uaelawdirectory.com/html/open_letter.html  Our request remains that the UAE respond and work with us on the solution.  Mrs. Musabih was unable to attend this event due to a security threat against her.

3- We request you, your committee, Dr. Gargash, Ambassador DeBaca, and David Batstone (copied on this email) publicly comment on future articles that continue to defame the United Hope UAE mission and staff.

I ask for you advice, guidance and suggestions on how to effectively work with the UAE government, United Hope UAE, and all other vested partners to end human trafficking in the UAE this year.

Best regards,
Philip J. Cenedella
CTA - Combating Trafficking Anywhere
www.stopslavery2010.com
www.uaelawdirectory.com
www.daytonhumantraffickingaccords.com
+1-888-206-3264
phil@daytonhumantraffickingaccords.com
----- Forwarded Message ----
From: InfoDesk OHCHR <infodesk@ohchr.org>
To: Philip J. Cenedella <phil@uaelawdirectory.com>
Sent: Fri, January 22, 2010 8:28:50 AM
Subject: Re: URGENT: Naela Gabr fax number please


Dear Mr. Canedella,

Thank you for your inquiry.
Please send your letter to:

registry@ohchr.org

or

Fax: + 41 22 917 90 08

Best regards,

InfoDesk
OHCHR Geneva
 

Dear Mr Al Reyami,

I am a freelance journalist, specialising in Middle Eastern affairs.

I am writing in reference to a story that appeared in your December 22 issue regarding Sharla Musabih. I am the journalist who wrote the story which appeared in the Jerusalem Report and which you refer to in your article.

I wish to make it clear that Sharla Musabih spoke to me in a freelance capacity - I am not employed by the Jerusalem Report nor any of its affiliates. This story, then, could have appeared anywhere in the world in any publication in the world. I also wish to make it clear that Ms Musabih never spoke out against the UAE government, nor against the UAE, but was raising concerns of a business and personal nature. It is equally important to point out that, via the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children, both Chairman Ahmad bin Obaid Al Mansoori and Executive Director Afra Rashed Al Basti were offered a right of reply to the story.

In the interests of fairness and impartiality, I kindly request that you make the above letter available in your newspaper.

Kind Regards,

Alasdair Soussi

USA   www.daytonhumantraffickingaccords.com
Phone  +1.888.206.3264
TV:  http://tvpc.com/Channel.php?ChannelID=2137