UAE: Surprise overnight raid leads to arrest of prominent human rights defender
| Publisher | Amnesty International |
| Publication Date | 20 March 2017 |
| Cite as | Amnesty International, UAE: Surprise overnight raid leads to arrest of prominent human rights defender, 20 March 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58d13ee44.html [accessed 20 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Following the arrest of human rights activist Ahmed Mansoor at 3:15AM local time after a lengthy room-by-room search of his apartment, Lynn Maalouf, Director of Research at Amnesty International's Beirut regional office, said:
"Amnesty International is appalled and dismayed at this surprise overnight raid resulting in the arrest of Ahmed Mansoor, a courageous and prominent human rights defender in the United Arab Emirates.
"We believe Ahmed Mansoor was detained for the peaceful expression of his conscientiously held beliefs, and we call for his immediate and unconditional release."
At around midnight, 10 male and two female uniformed security officials stormed the family's apartment and carried out a lengthy room-by-room search, including of the children's bedroom. They confiscated electronic devices and took Ahmed Mansoor away at around 3:15AM local time. They did not inform his wife where he was being taken.
Ahmed Mansoor does not have legal representation and, under UAE law, renewal of detention orders is a formality. Amnesty International fears that he may be at risk of torture or other ill-treatment in custody.
In 2015, Ahmed Mansoor was selected as the laureate of the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders.
