Ahmed Mansoor Convicted 3 Years Ago Today
Today, 29 May 2021, marks the third anniversary of prominent human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor’s conviction. ICFUAE reiterates its call for the UAE authorities to release him immediately after his arbitrary arrest and imprisonment.
Ahmed Mansoor is known for his extensive work with international rights organisations to raise awareness of human rights violations in the UAE and broader MENA region. On 20 March 2017, Mansoor was arrested and detained in an undisclosed location without access to a lawyer for 14 months. He was charged with ‘defaming the UAE through social media channels’ for his online criticisms of rights violations in Egypt and Yemen, as well as for his criticism of Emirati prosecutions of other activists.
Mansoor’s trial began on 14 March 2018 at the State Security Chamber of the Abu Dhabi Court of Appeals and concluded on 29 May 2018. In his final hearing, Mansoor was found guilty under the UAE’s penal code and its 2012 cybercrime laws. He was unjustly sentenced to ten years in prison and a fine of 1 million Emirati dirhams. Following the completion of his sentence, the court also ruled that Mansoor would be placed under surveillance for three years, that his devices be confiscated, and that his social media accounts be shut down.
Mansoor attempted to appeal his conviction. On New Year’s Eve 2018, his fourth appeal hearing, the Federal Supreme Court’s State Security Circuit upheld his sentence.
Since his conviction, Mansoor remains in al-Sadr prison in Abu Dhabi. He is in solitary confinement in a 2m x 2m cell with no bed, mattress nor means to distract himself. In 2019, he went on two hunger strikes to protest his deplorable detention conditions, which successfully convinced the Emirati authorities to allow him to contact close family members occasionally and spend limited time outdoors.
While imprisoned, he has been subjected to mental and physical torture. Mansoor’s four years in solitary confinement amount to torture, where he is reportedly beaten by prison warders. Additionally, prison guards cut off his hot water supplies during the winter months, heightening Mansoor’s vulnerability as he developed high blood pressure while detained.
His arrest, conviction and long-term sentencing have garnered mass criticisms from civil society organisations and the international community. For example, in May 2019, a group of mandated UN Special Rapporteurs expressed concern regarding Mansoor’s imprisonment and the poor conditions of the detention facility. More recently in February 2019, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders called upon the Emirati government to release him so he could continue his ‘meaningful and necessary human rights work’.
ICFUAE Statement:
On today’s three-year anniversary since Ahmed Mansoor’s grossly unjust conviction, ICFUAE urges the UAE authorities to unconditionally release him without further delay.
Ahmed Mansoor’s legitimate and peaceful human rights work never should have warranted his arrest and ultimate conviction. His discriminatory ten-year sentence reflects the UAE’s increased suppression of political and social dissidents.
The Emirati government needs to recognise its constitutional responsibility to uphold and respect human rights. If the UAE wants to demonstrate its true commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms, the authorities can redress by immediately reversing Mansoor’s conviction three years ago.
