Human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor remains held in solitary confinement five and half years on

Leading human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor is continued to be detained in solitary confinement for more than five years.

Denied from any contact from the external world, Ahmed Mansoor remained held in solitary confinement in Al-Sadr prison amid very difficult detention conditions since his arrest five and half years ago.

Mansoor has been denied from his basic human needs, including a bed and adequate medical care.

On 20 March 2017, Ahmed Mansoor was arrested by 12 undercover officers in a surprise night-raid, which lacked official warrants. All his electronical devices were confiscated.  He was taken to an unknown location, which was revealed to be Abu Dhabi Central Prison after the first week.

He was later transferred to Al Sadr prison where he remains awaiting trial, facing charges related to the comments he published online. He currently lacks legal representation. As a political activist and human rights defender, he is at high risk of torture.

UN experts, the European Parliament’s Human Rights group, and international rights organisations strongly condemned his arbitrary arrest, demanding his immediate and unconditional release. More than 18,000 people worldwide have signed Amnesty’s petition demanding his release.

Despite repeated calls by human rights organisations and international mechanisms over the past years, the UAE authorities have not allowed international experts or independent monitors access to Mansoor in prison. 

Such visits would, at least, provide independent verification of his true situation, and pending his release, could lead to improving his prison conditions.