Khaberni - The UAE authorities announced an urgent action resulting in the exemption of Hind Al Owais from her position, and the reconstitution of «Human Rights Trustees Council», in a surprising move which came after her name appeared in Jeffrey Epstein's documents which sparked widespread controversy in human rights and political spheres. The leaks revealed a personal and organized connection between Al Owais and the late American businessman, in addition to arranging a private meeting that brought him together with her sister Hala Al Owais, in one of the most controversial cases globally.
This development caused a wave of criticism domestically and internationally concerning the credibility and independence of the body, at a time when the national human rights body is facing increasing pressures due to accusations of its weak independence and connection to the executive authority. Observers believe that the case has placed the institution, concerned with protecting rights, in a position of suspicion instead of being in a position of monitoring and defending the victims.
According to followers, the decision reflects an official recognition of the sensitivity of the stage, and an attempt by Mohammed bin Zayed to contain the repercussions of the crisis and to send a message that the state will not tolerate any behavior that damages the image of its institutions, even if it involves prominent figures. The decision included appointing new names to the Board of Trustees, presented as «independent competencies», in an attempt to restore the body’s reputation and refurbish its image before the public.
However, observers have doubted the seriousness of the step, considering it to be merely a formal action to absorb anger and no more, in the absence of a transparent investigation or clear accountability. They believe that real reform does not start with the dismissal of an individual or a change of names, but with a comprehensive restructuring of the governance and supervision system within human rights institutions. According to them, the core of the crisis does not lie in the dismissed name, but in the forbidden questions and the truth that was stifled before it could see the light.
