A/HRC/45/36 127. In protest of his detention conditions, Mr. Mansoor reportedly began a second hunger strike at Al-Sadr prison in September 2019. 85 He had reportedly been subject to torture and ill-treatment in solitary confinement, which left visible marks on his face and body. The conditions of his detention are reportedly poor, and he lacks basic necessities and adequate medical care. It was reported to OHCHR that, as of mid-January 2020, Mr. Mansoor was still on a hunger strike, but that in May 2020 his state of health and conditions of detention were unknown. 128. The cases of Ms. Alya Abdulnoor, Ms. Maryam Soulayman Al-Ballushi and Ms. Amina Alabduli were included in the 2019 report of the Secretary-General (A/HRC/42/30, para. 79 and Annex I, paras. 105–109). It was reported to OHCHR that their conditions had worsened after information was transmitted to the UN, and allegations of torture and illtreatment in detention, and lack of appropriate medical treatment for the three women were raised by special procedures (ARE 2/2019). 86 Ms. Abdulnoor died in custody on 4 May 2019, despite pleas from the UN for assistance.87 129. It was reported to OHCHR that, on 30 July 2019, Ms. Al-Ballushi and Ms. Alabduli were brought before the Federal State Security prosecutor for three new charges under Federal Law No.5 of 2012 on Combating Cybercrimes, relating to their efforts to raise awareness about their cases. The charges included “leaking wrong information,” “affecting the reputation of the UAE and Al Wathba prison negatively,” and “causing problems between countries.” Neither Ms. Al-Ballushi nor Ms. Alabduli reportedly have had access to legal counsel in relation to these charges. It was further reported that in February 2020, Ms. Al-Ballushi and Ms. Alabduli were placed in solitary confinement every Sunday, Monday and Thursday (the days when they had been previously able to contact their families) in retaliation for their refusal to provide authorities with a recorded confession intended for broadcast on Emirati television. On 23 February 2020, despite their poor health, they began a hunger strike in protest of their conditions and treatment. 130. On 17 March 2020, special procedures mandate holders urged the Emirati authorities to investigate and reform detention conditions that amount to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, citing the cases of the three women. 88 The urgent call followed allegations that Ms. Al-Ballushi, accused of “financing terrorism” because of her donation to a Syrian family, attempted suicide due to degrading conditions in the Al-Wathba prison in Abu Dhabi (see ARE 2/2019). The mandate holders stated that “Ms. Al-Ballushi has also been subjected to reprisals following the official communication we sent to the UAE authorities.”89 131. The case of Mr. Ahmad Ali Mekkaoui, a Lebanese citizen, was included in the 2019 report of the Secretary-General (A/HRC/42/30, para. 78 and Annex I, paras. 103–104) after he allegedly faced reprisals following the issuance of an opinion of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which found his detention arbitrary in August 2017 (A/HRC/WGAD/2017/47, paras. 23, 34). The opinion of the Working Group was publicized on television. It was reported to OHCHR that, at the time of writing, Mr. Mekkaoui remained forbidden to make phone calls to his family, a measure in place since April 2019. His last contact with his family was when he was visited in person by a relative in October 2019. Since the COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020, he has been denied contact with family, who have not been able to obtain information on his condition, fate or whereabouts. 85 86 87 88 89 76 OHCHR, “UAE: UN experts condemn conditions of detention for jailed activist Ahmed Mansoor, (7 May 2019), https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24571&LangID=E. https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=34572. OHCHR, “UAE: Terminally ill prisoner, Alia Abdulnoor, must be released to “live final days in dignity,” say experts” (26 February 2019), https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24214&LangID=E and OHCHR, Press Briefing Note, Spokesperson of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (7 May 2019), https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24570&LangID=E. OHCHR, “United Arab Emirates: UN human rights experts call for urgent reforms of degrading conditions of detention,” (17 March 2020), https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25726&LangID=E. Ibid.