UAE | Government
Iran detains UAE men on fishing trip
Two UAE nationals and two Indian helpers have gone missing while on a fishing trip off Sharjah, and their families say they have been detained by Iranian authorities.
- By Bassma Al Jandaly, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 March 1, 2006
Sharjah: Two UAE nationals and two Indian helpers have gone missing while on a fishing trip off Sharjah, and their families say they have been detained by Iranian authorities.
Police did not identify the nationals but said that they are government employees from Sharjah. The UAE Foreign Ministry has initiated efforts to have the men released, a top official said.
Ahmad Abdul Rahman Al Jarman, Assistant Undersecretary for Specialist Affairs, said the ministry has officially asked Mohammad Ali Hadi Najafabadi, the Iranian Ambassador to the UAE, about the reasons behind the men's detention, and has sought their release as soon as possible.
The men have now been missing for a week.
"They went on a fishing trip last Wednesday when they were spotted by the Iranian Coast Guard who arrested them and took them to an unknown place," said a relative of one of the UAE nationals. "When we lost touch with them, we informed Sharjah Police who confirm that they had been detained by the Iranian authorities," the relative told Gulf News.
Islands issue
The families were told to contact the Foreign Ministry. "We do not even know where they are. We had received information that they are either being held on Abu Mousa Island or in Bandar Abbas."
The two men have not been allowed to contact their families, the relative said, adding that all their belongings and their boat have been seized.
In Abu Dhabi, Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, said before leaving for a GCC ministerial council meeting in Riyadh that the issue of Iran's continuous occupation of the UAE islands the greater and lesser Tunbs and Abu Mousa will be discussed during the deliberations, WAM reported.
More from UAE Government
More from UAE
Latest news
- Students attend traffic court hearings
- New road widens Jumeirah Lakes Towers access
- Filipino students, groups attend cultural meet
- For this maestro, it's all about the sound
- Experts can't tell old instruments from new
- Sound of violins
- Facilitators: Helping others find joy
- Volunteers remove garbage from Mamzar beach
- Clean-up campaign set to raise awareness
- Sharjah landmarks bathed in light
- Shaikh Mohammad meets South Korea leader
- Get friends on board, zip away with Salik bonus
- Top Arab advocacy group in dire need of aid
- New rules for Abu Dhabi buildings
- In the pursuit of happiness
Community Reports
-
Bridges needed
Al Ittihad Road has no pedestrian facilities as one nears Sharjah
-
Street lights needed
Authorities urged to act with haste before a major accident occurs in Al Nahda, Dubai
-
Motorists ignore stop sign on buses
Overtaking school vehicles can put students' lives at risk
-
Safety regulations flouted at Dubai work place
In Al Nahda 2, two workers were seen working on the crane boom at a height of 20m without a full body harness or safety net in violation of rules
