Activists Defy Restrictions at COP28 Summit in Dubai
In a bold move, activists designated Saturday as a day of protest at the COP28 summit held in Dubai. However, their efforts were met with strict controls enforced by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government, limiting their freedom of expression.
Demonstrators attending the summit were prohibited from saying certain things, walking in certain areas, and even portraying certain signs. For instance, some protesters who were advocating for the release of activists from Egypt and the UAE were not allowed to hold up signs displaying their names.
Despite these restrictions, a significant movement of approximately 500 people, the largest at the climate conference, gathered within the U.N.-governed Blue Zone in the UAE to raise their voices. This area was the only place where protests were permitted.
Interestingly, calls for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza were not allowed to mention the parties involved, as mandated by the U.N. Furthermore, the use of the slogan “from the river to the sea” in support of the Palestinians was prohibited.
In response to these constraints, protesters found creative ways to express their solidarity. Instead of national flags, they sported keffiyeh scarves and held signs depicting watermelons, symbolizing their support for the Palestinians.
Despite the limitations placed upon them, activists deemed these protests historic due to their size and significance. It is worth noting that at past COP summits, demonstrations outside the Blue Zone were typically allowed. However, in the UAE, protests were confined to the U.N.-controlled space, limiting the reach and impact of the activists.
Furthermore, there were instances where demonstrators were ordered to fold over signs bearing the names of detained activists just moments prior to a protest organized by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. The Emirati government responded to criticism by stating that it does not comment on individual cases and reiterated its support for peaceful assemblies in designated areas.
The protest also included signs bearing the images of prominent activists Ahmed Mansoor from the UAE and Alaa Abdel-Fattah from Egypt. Both of these individuals have faced government repression for their pro-democracy activism.
Additionally, protesters staged a brief sit-in at OPEC’s stand in response to a leaked letter urging member states to reject any attempts to include a phase-down of fossil fuels in the summit’s text. This action highlights the activists’ commitment to addressing the urgent climate crisis.
Overall, despite the restrictions imposed upon them, activists at the COP28 summit in Dubai defied the limitations and made their voices heard. The use of creative symbols and imagery, along with the sheer size of the protests, made these demonstrations historic and impactful.
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