4 Political Prisoners Released ahead of Ramadan

The President of the UAE Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan has ordered the release of 700 prisoners, state news media reported today. 

The presidential order came as part of the traditional Ramadan pardon.

According to well-informed sources, four political prisoners Mansoor al-Ahmadi, Fisal al-Shehhi, Ahmed al-Mulla, and Saeed al-Brimi are among the newly-released detainees.

Prosecuted on State Security charges solely on the basis of their peaceful and legitimate activism, all four prisoners had completed their full prison sentences some time ago. Despite this, they had been arbitrarily held behind bars without a clear legal basis until today. 

Fisal al-Shehhi and Ahmad al-Mulla were due for release in April and May 2017 respectively, while Saeed al-Brimi was due to be freed in March 2018 and Mansoor al-Ahmadi in October 2019.

A number of human rights organisations have repeatedly urged the UAE to act in an unbiased manner to incorporate the release of all prisoners of conscience under the annual pardoning for Ramadan. 

ICFUAE statement:

We are delighted to see the release of four political prisoners in the UAE. This is an important step in the right direction and we now encourage the authorities to free all those imprisoned solely for their social or political activism and all those who are detained in Munasaha centres beyond their sentences. 

We are highly concerned about the health and safety of all remaining prisoners of conscience. Amid the spread of Covid-19, detainees are subjected to overcrowded and unsanitary environments, putting them at an increased risk of becoming ill. Security forces’ use of torture and ill-treatment and the frequent denial of medical care also have detrimental effects on the health of those imprisoned. 

We therefore urge the UAE authorities to further reduce prison populations by releasing all those who are imprisoned solely for the peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly. 

All political prisoners and all those who remain indefinitely detained should be released immediately and unconditionally given the unjust nature of their imprisonment. 

ENDS

For further information on the above mentioned cases:

- please see the attached file or

- contact ICFUAE at media@icfuae.org.uk