Amnesty: no space for free expression in the UAE

Amnesty International said in a statement issued this week that there is no space for free expression in the United Arab Emirates.

The statement was issued in response to the UAE authorities’ decision to uphold the conviction and 10-year prison term of prominent Emirati human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor.

“Ahmed Mansoor’s only ‘crime’ was to express his peaceful opinions on social media, and it is outrageous that he is being punished with such a heavy prison sentence,” Amnesty’s Middle East Research Director, Lynn Maalouf said.

 This is a final verdict and cannot be appealed. Instead of punishing Ahmed Mansoor for daring to express his opinions, the authorities must ensure his conviction and sentence are quashed and release him immediately and unconditionally, she added.