A/HRC/42/30 against Mr. Mansoor. The spokesperson urged the Government “to promptly and unconditionally release Mansoor and to ensure that individuals are not penalised for expressing views critical of the Government or its allies.”160 In April 2019, it was reported that Mr. Mansoor was on a hunger strike to protest an unfair trial and the conditions in which he is detained. On 7 May 2019, seven special procedures mandate holders expressed grave concern over Mr. Mansoor’s physical well-being and the poor conditions of his detention.161 105. The case of Mr. Osama Al-Najjar was mentioned in the 2018 and several previous reports of the Secretary-General (A/HRC/39/41, Annex II, paras. 57–58; A/HRC/33/19, para. 44; A/HRC/30/29, para. 6; and A/HRC/27/38, para. 37) and raised by five special procedures mandate holders (ARE 2/2015). He was alleged to have been subject to reprisals after meeting with the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers during her visit to the country in 2014. According to information received, Mr. Al-Najjar was arrested, tortured and held incommunicado in March 2014, was then transferred to Al Wathba prison, to be released on 17 March 2017, following the completion of his threeyear sentence. However, in March 2017 the Federal Supreme Court reportedly refused to release him and, requested by the Public Prosecution, transferred him to a counselling center (Munasaha) for guidance and reform. 106. In 2017, the court extended his placement in this center twice. In May 2018, seven special procedures mandate holders expressed serious concern over the continued arbitrary detention of Mr. Al-Najjar beyond the term of his sentence on the basis of broad and vague anti-terrorism legislation (ARE 1/2018).162 On 6 July 2018 the Government provided follow up information, noting that Mr. Al-Najjar is going therapy and treatment at a counselling centre called a Munasaha Centre which “consists of psychological, social and religious sessions to uproot terrorist and extremist ideologies” based on “concern that he might commit a terrorist offence after leaving the prison” and a “threat to public security.” In March 2019, it was reported that Mr. Al-Najjar was still being held in a counselling center despite having completed his sentence and treatment. 107. The case of Mr. Mohamad Ismat Mohamad Shaker Az was included in the 2018 report of the Secretary-General (A/HRC/39/41, Annex, para. 56 and 58) concerning his treatment following an Opinion issued by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention who found his detention arbitrary (ARE 6/2017). 163 Mr. Shaker Az was placed in solitary confinement on 2 July 2017 for two months allegedly in retaliation after the issuance of Opinion of the Working Group. It was further reported that the prosecutor would ask for an increased penalty, from 15 years to life imprisonment. On 6 July 2018 the Government provided information that Mr. Shaker Az is “currently serving his sentence of imprisonment at the Al Wathba penal institution, where he receives appropriate health care, and is permitted to communicate with his family in accordance with the regulations and procedures applicable to penal and correctional institutions.” 108. In May 2019, it was reported that Mr. Mohammed Shaker Az was allowed phone calls to his family on a monthly basis, but the last time they heard from him was on 14 February 2019. Concerns are reported that this might constitute further acts of reprisals for his engagement with the United Nations and that, while being denied access to his family, he might be subjected to acts of torture or other forms of ill-treatment. 160 161 162 163 OHCHR, Press Briefing Note, Spokesperson of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (4 January 2019). OHCHR, “UAE: UN experts condemn conditions of detention for jailed activist Ahmed Mansoor,” (7 May 2019). Response from Government: https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/ DownLoadFile?gId=34161. Opinion No. 21/2017 adopted by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention at its seventy-eighth session, concerning Mohamad Ismat Mohamad Shaker Az (United Arab Emirates), 19–28 April 2017. 65