HRW calls on UAE to investigate violations against activist

Human Rights Watch on Wednesday called on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to immediately open an investigation into recent physical assaults on Ahmed Mansour, a prominent opposition and human rights activist. Mansour was assaulted twice on the streets in recent weeks, according to the New York-based organisation. It called on local authorities to take steps to ensure that the investigation is thorough and impartial. Human Rights Watch advocated an investigation into the threats to his life and physical security and slammed the negative influence of such acts in violating his right to free expression. In addition, the group called for Mansour's passport to be returned to him: "Article 27 of the Arab Charter on Human Rights states that no one shall be arbitrarily or unlawfully prevented from leaving any country, including his own. “The government spares no effort to jail political opponents on spurious security charges, but sits on its hands while an Emirati citizen is threatened, beaten and attacked in broad daylight, despite dozens of complaints to the police." The group added that the verbal and physical attacks against Mansour cannot be separated from a government campaign of intimidation, fear and arrests against all of the country's political activists. Mansour, a member of the Human Rights Watch Middle East and North Africa Advisory Committee, was detained in April 2011, along with four other activists, for signing an online, unprecedented petition demanding constitutional and parliamentary changes, free elections and a more equitable distribution of the country's oil wealth. During his trial in July, he was accused of insulting the country's rulers and using an online forum to conspire against the state.The five defendants pleaded not guilty at a closed-door sessions of Abu Dhabi's Federal Supreme Court. All five defendants were convicted but in November were released after receiving a pardon. During his trial, Human Rights Watch, as well as other international rights organisations, called on the UAE to release the activists because the government had presented no legitimate evidence to support the charges. Moreover, a coalition of non-governmental organisations revealed evidence in November showing that authorities had failed to investigate a campaign of deaths threats, slander and intimidation against Mansour. Relatives of the five men and one of their lawyers have filed more than a dozen evidence-backed complaints, in some cases including the names of those making the threats. The public prosecutor and police authorities ignored the complaints despite their duty to investigate and prosecute suspected criminal offenses. While the United Arab Emirates has not seen street protests like those that have roiled other Arab nations, including nearby Bahrain, authorities have moved to silence pro-reform advocates. Political activity is severely restricted in the UAE, an alliance of seven semiautonomous states, each ruled by a hereditary sheikh. There are no official opposition groups in the country and political parties are banned. Ahram online