Blogger and pro-democracy activist Ahmed Mansoor’s ongoing imprisonment in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) underscores the government’s persistent crackdown on free expression and human rights defenders. A recipient of the Martin Ennals Award for his exceptional work, Mansoor remains one of the most prominent activists in the Gulf region.
On 20 March 2017, Mansoor was arrested for allegedly using social media platforms to “publish false information and rumors” and “promote a sectarian and hate-incited agenda.” Authorities raided his apartment at night, confiscated electronic devices, and detained him in solitary confinement. Since then, he has been denied access to legal counsel and has had minimal contact with his family.
In May 2018, the State Security Chamber of the Federal Appeal Court in Abu Dhabi sentenced Mansoor to 10 years in prison and fined him 1,000,000 Emirati Dirhams (approximately USD $270,000) on charges including “insulting the UAE and its symbols.”
Following his arrest, a coalition of 18 human rights organizations called for his release, describing the imprisonment as “a direct attack on the legitimate work of human rights defenders in the UAE.” Despite these efforts, Mansoor remains imprisoned, deprived of his passport, and subject to a travel ban. He continues to face significant risk of torture due to his history as a dissident.
This is not the first time the UAE government has targeted Mansoor for his human rights work. In 2011, he was charged with publicly insulting state officials on UAE Hewar, an online discussion forum where he had called for democratic elections. After his involvement was discovered, authorities detained him for eight months, during which he was subjected to ill-treatment before being released on a pardon.
The UAE government has also repeatedly violated Mansoor’s privacy through surveillance and targeted hacking campaigns. Under the guise of Federal Decree-Law No. 5 of 2012 for Combating Cybercrimes, authorities have closely monitored Mansoor and other activists’ online activities. He has been the target of at least three hacking and spyware attacks—the most recent of which could have transformed his iPhone into a monitoring device. This breach of privacy sparked significant global attention, prompting Apple to issue an update to fix vulnerabilities in its operating system.
The arbitrary imprisonment and persecution of Ahmed Mansoor exemplify the UAE’s broader strategy to systematically suppress free expression and silence dissenting voices. The UAE must immediately release Mansoor and drop all charges related to his peaceful activism. Additionally, it must amend overly broad legislation, such as its cybercrimes laws, to ensure that Emirati citizens and residents are guaranteed their right to free speech.As of January 2025, Mansoor remains imprisoned under harsh conditions, including prolonged solitary confinement, which has raised significant concerns about his health and well-being.