EU Parliamentary questions tabled on the release and treatment in detention of political prisoners in the UAE

E-001375/2021

Question asked by Nikolaj Villumsen MEP to Josep Borrell Fontelles

(the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy)

Asked on 10 March 2021

The EU must take the numerous reports of human rights violations taking place in the United Arab Emirates seriously.

1. Will the Vice‑President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) publicly call for His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan to grant the immediate and unconditional release of all political activists, human rights defenders, journalists and prisoners of conscience who have been tortured or subjected to other forms of ill-treatment in the United Arab Emirates since 2012, including Ahmed Mansour?
2.  Will the VP/HR urge the Emirati Government to accept and invite independent, impartial bodies to investigate all allegations of torture and ill-treatment in detention, and hold those responsible accountable in accordance with national law?
3. Will he commit to meeting with civil society organisations and regional activists prior to the next informal human rights dialogue between the European External Action Service and Emirati officials?

Answers by Mr Josep BorrellFontelles are currently pending. ICFUAE are keen to hear his response.