Resolution on the UAE, notably the situation of human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor

The European Parliament adopted by 322 votes to 220 with 56 abstentions a resolution on the UAE, notably the situation of human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor.

The resolution was tabled by the S&D, ALDE, Greens/EFA, GUE/NGL and EFDD groups.

Members called for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr Mansoor, a prominent human rights activist and the 2015 laureate of the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders, who was arrested by UAE security officers on March 2017. They expressed grave concern at the reports that Ahmed Mansoor has been subjected to forms of torture or ill-treatment while in detention, and that he is being held in solitary confinement. They also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience in the UAE and for all charges against them to be dropped. The UAE authorities were called upon to ensure that detainees deemed to have broken the law undergo due process and are given a free and fair trial according to international standards.

Members noted that UAE residents who have spoken up on human rights issues are at serious risk of arbitrary detention, imprisonment, and torture. Attacks on members of civil society, including efforts to silence, imprison or harass human rights activists, journalists, lawyers, and others have become increasingly common in recent years.

Parliament expressed its concern at the ever-increasing use of certain cyber surveillance dual-use technologies against activists and journalists and called for an EU-wide ban on the export, sale, update and maintenance of any form of security equipment to the UAE which can be used for internal repression, including internet surveillance technology. It also called for the adoption of EU targeted measures related to serious human rights violations.

The resolution also urged the UAE to:

• review the Federal Law on combating cybercrimes in order to make it conform to international standards relating to the right of everyone to receive, disseminate and impart information to others, access to the internet and the right to privacy;
• amend the Counter-Terrorism Law, the 2012 Cybercrimes Law and Federal Law No 2/2008, which are repeatedly used to prosecute human rights defenders.

Lastly, Parliament called for the EU and its Member States to take a strong public stand against the flagrant violation of human rights, including by demanding Mr Mansoor’s release in all contacts they have with the UAE authorities. The EEAS was asked to report to the European Parliament on the actions undertaken so far by the EU Delegation in Abu Dhabi in support of Mr Mansoor.