DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates have continued to hold blogger Ahmed Mansour without trial or charges since he was detained by secret police in April. Pan-Arab media freedom organization the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) has condemned the UAE government for its actions and has demanded that the blogger be released. According to a press statement from the Cairo-based organization, Abdul Hamid Al Kamiti, Mansour's lawyer, told ANHRI that the “State Security court decided on May 30 to extend the detention of Mansour in case no. 42-2011, for 10 days more though the prosecution had pledged to submit the accused to justice in 48 hours, however the activists are under arbitrary detention till the moment.” Mansour is a well-known blogger under the name “Oppressed Emarati Citizen.” He is known for his criticism of policy and has documented a number of human rights violations in the country. He was detained for signing a petition that demanded political reform in the country, ANHRI stated. He is not the first activist to be jailed for their opinion. On April 25, Ali Abdullah El Shehi, Nasser Ben Gheth, Fahd Salim, Hassan Ali Al Khamis and Ahmed Abdul Khalek Ahmed were detained and accused of inciting people to disobey the law, “performing activities that may endanger the security state, violating the public order, breaching of regime, insulting the state president, his deputy and Abu Dhabi's crown prince.” None of them have been brought before a court. ANHRI said “the detention extension of the Emirati activist without putting him on trial is merely an arbitrary measure taken by the Emirati authorities, which are still trying to find a reason for his detention. This arises our fears that they may make fake allegations against Mansour and the other activists in a deterioration step for freedom of opinion and expression in the UAE.” BM
