UN and EU Parliament Condemn UAE's Arrest of Prominent Activist
Early this morning, UN experts and an EU Parliament Committee have publicly condemned the UAE authorities for the arbitrary arrest of prominent human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor. Ahmed was detained 8 days ago for his online activism and public criticism of the government's violations of human rights.
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Group on Enforced Disappearances and 3 Special Rapporteurs issued a statement this morning urging the UAE to release Ahmed Mansoor immediately and unconditionally. “We regard Mr. Mansoor’s arrest and detention as a direct attack on the legitimate work of human rights defenders in the UAE,” the experts said. They also urged the authorities "to end the harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders in the UAE, and to respect the right of everyone to freedom of opinion and expression, including on social media and the internet".
Pier Antonio Panzeri, Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights at the European Parliament also published a call for the release of Ahmed Mansoor. "Human rights defenders should be able to carry out their legitimate and peaceful activities all around the world without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment", he said. He encourages other European states to follow his example and to "provide all appropriate support to Mr Mansoor in his ordeal, in line with the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders".
Ahmed Mansoor was arrested in Dubai by the UAE authorities in the early hours of Monday 20th March 2017. Ahmed is the winner of the 2015 Laureate Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders and member of the advisory committee of Human Rights Watch. He was taken away during the night by twelve undercover members of UAE security forces, after they searched his house from top to bottom without any warrant. Now being kept in a secret location, Ahmed Mansoor is denied access to his family and to any legal assistance. His enforced disappearance places him at high risk of torture. Ahmed is a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for peacefully exercising his rights to freedom of expression.
These statements follow a rising international support for Ahmed Mansoor. Last night, two vigils were held in London and Manchester to demand his release. The vigils, organised by the ICFUAE at the UAE Embassy in London and by Amnesty Manchester at the Manchester town hall, saw supporters from all over the country join in solidarity. International human rights organisations have urged governments to take action and ensure the release of Ahmed Mansoor.
Ahmed Mansoor's case is not unique. In the last month alone, the UAE authorities have sentenced a Jordanian journalist, Tayseer Al-Najjar, to 3 years in jail for his critical comments on the UAE's foreign policies as well as other Gulf states and Israel. They have also denied Osama Al-Najjar's release, despite his sentence was completed on 17th March. The United Arab Emirates have worked endlessly to promote their liberal image abroad, but their harsh repression on freedom of expression is gaining more international attention.
The ICFUAE strongly condemns Ahmed Mansoor's arbitrary detention, which violates not only his rights to freedom of expression, but also his rights under international law of not being subjected to enforced disappearances and to have access to legal representation. We demand his unconditional and immediate release.
1. UN statement: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=21449&LangID=E
2. EU Parliament Subcommittee on Human RIghts statement: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20170328IPR68805/droi-chair-calls-on-uae-to-unconditionally-release-ahmed-mansoor
3. ICFUAE's vigil: http://icfuae.org.uk/news/supporters-london-and-manchester-protest-arrest-prominent-uae-activist
4. Amnesty's press release: https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/manchester-city-council-urged-raise-case-detained-emirati-human-rights-activist
