UAE: Attack on prominent human rights Ahmed Mansoor

 On 11 Setember 2012, prominent human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor was attacked at Ajman University around 4:30pm, as he left the law building on his way to the car park. There is a strong belief that the security apparatus were behind the attack.

The human rights defender said after the attack, “The attacker was well-prepared for the mission and had information that I was at the university, though the university classes did not really start as it is the add/drop week. He must have been fed with some information about my presence at the time and moment at the university.”

As a result of the attack, the prominent human rights defender sustained some bruises on his right arm, knees and foot when he fell down on the ground after being roughly pushed by the attacker, who managed to flee with a car in which he jumped holding in his hand the registration plates which were attached to the car softly.

Immediately after the attack, a medical report was taken and a case filed at Ajman Police Station (Al-Humaidiah Police Center).

Ahmed Mansoor was detained on 8 April 2008 for more than seven months with four other human rights defenders (collectively known as the "UAE 5" ) for signing a reform petition directed at the UAE Head of State on 9 March 2011. This petition called for reforms in the legislature, including through ensuring a proper election of the National Council and allowing it to perform its role and powers in full. The UAE 5, including Ahmed Mansoor, were released with a pardon on 28 November 2011.

He also received several threats in the past including death threats and filed many complaints. Although names of those delivered threats and phone numbers and in some cases photos were presented, the authorities failed to take any action due to instructions by the State Security Apparatus.

GCHR condemns the attack on prominent human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor and is deeply concerned for his physical and psychological security. The GCHR calls on the UAE authorities to cease immediately all attacks on human rights defenders. The GCHR also calls on the relevant governments, the UN, EU, and leading human rights organizations to condemn in the strongest terms the attacks on human rights defenders in the UAE who peacefully exercise their basic rights to freedom of expression, opinion, and assembly.

The Gulf Centre for Human Rights is an independent human rights NGO registered in Ireland. The Centre works to strengthen support for human rights defenders and independent journalists in Bahrain, Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. See: http://gc4hr.org/