2 August 2011

Alert

Concern for well-being of detained blogger


Incident details

Ill health/deteriorating health

Ahmed Mansour, Blogger

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(ANHRI/IFEX) - Cairo, 1 August 2011 - ANHRI is calling on Emirati authorities to stop abusing the prisoner of conscience, blogger and activist Ahmed Mansour.

Mansour is being held at Al-Wathba prison, in the city of Abu Dhabi, where he has reportedly been ill-treated and denied adequate health care by prison administration. Although he is being detained pending trial, he is being held with convicted criminals after being released from solitary confinement.

ANHRI has also learned that a number of prisoners recently tried to provoke a fight with Mansour but their attempts failed due to his mature and calm response.

Mansour and four other activists are facing charges of "insulting the head of the state", "stirring sectarian strife", and "destabilization" after they participated in the online forum "Emirati dialogue (Emirati Hiwar Forum)". It remains unclear, however, on what the charges are based.

"The practices of the prison administration against Ahmed Mansour are disturbing. It is hard to imagine that these are isolated incidents (. . .). It seems clear that Mansour is being targeted when we consider the information blackout in this case and the defamation campaign against him and his fellow prisoners of conscience," ANHRI said.

"The U.A.E. authorities must ensure that the rights of Ahmed Mansour and other activists are safeguarded. They must also take steps to protect them from the harassment they are facing, in order to prove that the state is serious about respecting human rights, especially freedom of opinion and expression," ANHRI added.

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From other IFEX members

Internet writers detained; fears for safety (WiPC)
Blogger and four other activists continue to boycott trial, verdict in five weeks (RSF)

More on this case

Free activists before elections, say four rights groups 21 September 2011 ANHRI urges authorities to investigate death threats against detained blogger, activist 10 August 2011 End trial of activists charged with insulting officials 17 July 2011 Call for end to trial of five pro-democracy activists 15 June 2011 ANHRI condemns blogger's extended detention 9 June 2011 Detained activists face charges for signing petition demanding reforms 29 April 2011 Three outspoken rights activists detained 14 April 2011

At a glance

United Arab Emirates

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United Arab Emirates
 
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