Mohammed Al-Rukn

Mohammed Abdullah Al-Rukn is an Emirati lawyer and political activist who was born on 26 September 1962.

Al-Rukn was incarcerated by Emirati authorities and given a 10 year sentence for being part of Al Islah, an organization that is labeled as a terrorist organization in the UAE.

Early life Al-Rukn was born in Dubai, UAE to a modest family of Ajam ancestry. He attended primary schools in Dubai, where he was a quick learner. Later he was granted a scholarship to the United States to study chemical engineering, but decided instead to study law.

He attended the United Arab Emirates University, Faculty of Law in 1981 and graduated with excellence in 1985 with a bachelor's degree in law and a minor in political science. While at university he was an administrative body of the Emirates National Students Union.

In 1985 Al-Rukn attended Warwick University and graduated with a degree in constitutional law. In 1992 he completed his Ph.D. in constitutional law from the same university.

Dr. Al-Rukn was arrested on July 17, 2012 for being part of Al Islah, a group that has allegedly planned to organize a coup against the UAE government.