ECHR: UAE targets rights activist with all reprisal means

The Emirates Center for Human Rights (ECHR) condemned the UAE authorities’ continued violations of human rights against activist Ahmed Mansour, confirming that it targeted him with all retaliatory means.

“The authorities have denied Mansoor his right to contact with his family since last April, and although there are no other means of communication left for Mansoor to maintain outside contacts after stopping family visits due to the Corona pandemic crisis, prison administration also deprived him of this right in a clear violation of the provisions of Federal Law No. 43 of 1992 on Regulating Penal Institutions and the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, which recognize the prisoner’s right to communicate with their family and reputable friends at regular intervals, both by correspondence and by receiving visits.

“ECHR expresses its deep concern about the ongoing violation of Mansoor’s rights by authorities who are subjecting him to all forms of abuses over the past three years in prison. He was forcibly disappeared and then placed in prolonged solitary confinement in appalling conditions which ” amount to torture”.

“The detention of Mansoor in such conditions is yet another crime against him, in addition to his arrest and deprivation of liberty. Today Mansoor is cut off from the outside world without any given explanations form the side of authorities amid rising fears about his well-being especially after the spread of Coronavirus in some of the UAE prisons. His family is left with answered questions about his health conditions.

“Emirates Center for Human Rights believes that the continuation of violations against Mansoor and against all prisoners of conscience in Emirati prisons comes as part of a policy of impunity that provides cover for the abuse and denial of detainees’rights.

“Accordingly, ECHR calls upon the UAE authorities to: 1 – Release human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor immediately and unconditionally, and until then the authorities must ensure that he has access to the outside world through family visits and call phones and any other means of communication enshrined by law. 2- Guarantee his physical and psychological security and integrity. 3- Hold all those responsible for violations against prisoners of conscience to end impunity. 4- Release all prisoners of conscience in the UAE who detained for practicing their legitimate human rights activities.”