“UAE94” detainee Mohammed al-Mansori facing new terrorism charges
Name(s):
Mohammed Ali Saleh al-Mansori
Status:
Arbitrarily detained
Year of birth:
1957
Profession:
Director of the Office of the Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah
Nationality:
Emirati
Date of arrest:
Mohammed Ali al-Mansori is an Emirati citizen, who was arrested on July 16, 2012, as part of the “UAE94”. He was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment. He completed his sentence in July 2023 but remains detained. On December 7, 2023, a new mass trial began before the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal, where al-Mansori is being retried for new terrorism charges.
In March 2011, after a group of 133 Emirati academics, judges, lawyers, students, and human rights defenders signed a petition addressed to the President of the United Arab Emirates and the country’s Federal Supreme Council calling for democratic reforms, the UAE’s State Security Apparatus (SSA) initiated a campaign of arrests against the individuals who signed the document.
Mohammed Ali al-Mansori is the former Director of the Office of the Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah. On July 16, 2012, he was arrested as part of the “UAE94” for signing the petition calling for democratic reform in the UAE.
Arrested individuals were later sentenced in the UAE’s largest mass trial, known as the “UAE94”, before the Federal Supreme Court.
On January 27, 2013, the 94 defendants were charged with founding, organising and administering an organisation aimed at overthrowing the government, on the basis of article 180 of the penal code.
On July 2, 2013, the Emirati authorities convicted 61 of the 94 defendants, in addition to eight individuals in absentia. Al-Mansori was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment.
On June 12, 2023, al-Mansori made a final call to his family from within al-Razeen Prison.
He should have been released on July 16, 2023, but remained in detention.
On September 12, 2023, MENA Rights Group requested the urgent intervention of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, calling on them to urge the Emirati authorities to take action to clarify al-Mansori’s fate and whereabouts.
On December 1, 2023, al-Mansori was able to pass a phone call to his family from the inside of an unknown facility belonging to the State Security Apparatus (SSA).
On December 7, 2023, a new mass trial began before the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal, involving 87 defendants. In the inaugural hearing, the charges against al-Mansori and his co-defendants were read out Al-Mansori and others are charged with new terrorism crimes, namely, for establishing another clandestine organisation for the purpose of committing acts of violence and terrorism on UAE soil.
The second hearing took place on December 14, 2023, featuring three members of the SSA as witnesses for the Public Prosecution Office (PPO).
On December 19, 2023, MENA Rights Group and the Emirates Detainees Advocacy Center (EDAC) requested the urgent intervention of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism.
The third hearing took place on December 21, 2023, and the entire trial was conducted secretly, with a notable absence of local media coverage.
On January 11, 2024, the fourth hearing took place with no media coverage. There have been reports of torture during this trial according to EDAC.
| Name(s): |
Mohammed Ali Saleh al-Mansori
|
| Status: |
Arbitrarily detained
|
| Year of birth: |
1957
|
| Profession: |
Director of the Office of the Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah
|
| Nationality: |
Emirati
|
| Date of arrest: |
|
In March 2011, after a group of 133 Emirati academics, judges, lawyers, students, and human rights defenders signed a petition addressed to the President of the United Arab Emirates and the country’s Federal Supreme Council calling for democratic reforms, the UAE’s State Security Apparatus (SSA) initiated a campaign of arrests against the individuals who signed the document.
Mohammed Ali al-Mansori is the former Director of the Office of the Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah. On July 16, 2012, he was arrested as part of the “UAE94” for signing the petition calling for democratic reform in the UAE.
Arrested individuals were later sentenced in the UAE’s largest mass trial, known as the “UAE94”, before the Federal Supreme Court.
On January 27, 2013, the 94 defendants were charged with founding, organising and administering an organisation aimed at overthrowing the government, on the basis of article 180 of the penal code.
On July 2, 2013, the Emirati authorities convicted 61 of the 94 defendants, in addition to eight individuals in absentia. Al-Mansori was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment.
On June 12, 2023, al-Mansori made a final call to his family from within al-Razeen Prison.
He should have been released on July 16, 2023, but remained in detention.
On September 12, 2023, MENA Rights Group requested the urgent intervention of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, calling on them to urge the Emirati authorities to take action to clarify al-Mansori’s fate and whereabouts.
On December 1, 2023, al-Mansori was able to pass a phone call to his family from the inside of an unknown facility belonging to the State Security Apparatus (SSA).
On December 7, 2023, a new mass trial began before the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal, involving 87 defendants. In the inaugural hearing, the charges against al-Mansori and his co-defendants were read out Al-Mansori and others are charged with new terrorism crimes, namely, for establishing another clandestine organisation for the purpose of committing acts of violence and terrorism on UAE soil.
The second hearing took place on December 14, 2023, featuring three members of the SSA as witnesses for the Public Prosecution Office (PPO).
On December 19, 2023, MENA Rights Group and the Emirates Detainees Advocacy Center (EDAC) requested the urgent intervention of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism.
The third hearing took place on December 21, 2023, and the entire trial was conducted secretly, with a notable absence of local media coverage.
On January 11, 2024, the fourth hearing took place with no media coverage. There have been reports of torture during this trial according to EDAC.