A/HRC/60/62
Mr. Mansoor is alleged to have suffered intimidation and reprisals for his collaboration with
United Nations human rights mechanisms. In 2011, his detention was deemed arbitrary by
the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (A/HRC/WGAD/2011/64). In January 2021,
special procedure mandate holders raised concerns about his imprisonment, alleged ill
treatment and solitary confinement (ARE 1/2021).132 to which the Government responded.133
Reportedly, Mr. Ahmed Mansoor was among the 84 individuals facing new terrorist charges.
132. According to information received by OHCHR on 10 July 2024, the Abu Dhabi
Federal Court of Appeal convicted and sentenced 53 individuals in the context of the
abovementioned mass trials of 84 individuals, pursuant to counter-terrorism charges under
Federal Law No. 7/2014. Reportedly, Mr. Mohamed al-Mansoori and Mr. Ahmed Mansoor
were both convicted under this Law for the crime of “establishing, founding and managing a
clandestine terrorist organization” known as the Justice and Dignity Committee, in the case
of Mr. Al Mansoori allegedly with the aim of committing terrorist acts on the country’s soil.
Mr. Mohamed al-Mansoori was reportedly sentenced to life imprisonment and Mr. Ahmed
Mansoor to 15 years in prison. Together with their co-defendants, they filed an appeal in
November 2024. On 4 March 2025, following closed proceedings, the Federal Supreme
Court of Abu Dhabi rejected their appeal and upheld the judgment.
133. On 16 April 2025, special procedure mandate holders raised concerns about the
rejection of the appeal (ARE 3/2025) and reiterated concerns previously communicated to
the Government (ARE 1/2024), noting that those who had previously been convicted in the
so-called UAE 94 case, which reportedly included Mr. Mohamed al-Mansoori, were retried
for the same acts, but this time under Federal Law No. 7/201.
134. The case of Mr. Ahmad Ali Mekkaoui, a Lebanese citizen, was included in the
reports of the Secretary-General in 2019, 2020 and 2021,134 after he allegedly faced reprisals
following the issuance of an opinion of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in August
2017, which found his detention arbitrary (A/HRC/WGAD/2017/47, paras 23, 34).
Reportedly, in May 2021, Mr. Mekkaoui remained in detention without in-person contact
with his family since the COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020. While, beginning in February
2021, he was reportedly able to make brief monitored one- to two-minute calls to his family,
according to information received by OHCHR, during the reporting period, he now has no
contact with his family whatsoever.
17.
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
135. The case of Ms. Karen Caruci, a human rights lawyer, has been included in reports
of the Secretary-General since 2022 135 on allegations of re-arrest and police questioning
about her engagement with the United Nations. Ms. Caruci was granted conditional release
in March 2022. During the reporting period, Ms. Caruci, was reportedly subjected to threats
by public officials, including individuals affiliated with the Office of the Attorney General.
These threats have allegedly impeded her from performing her legal functions and have had
a detrimental impact on her ability to work at full capacity and on her family, in particular
her daughter with disabilities.
136. The case of Mr. Franklin Caldera Cordero, the Coordinator of the Victims’
Committee “S.O.S. Libertad Family”, was included in the 2024 report of the
Secretary-General136 on allegations of physical surveillance, anonymous threats, including
Annex II, paras. 133–135 and A/HRC/51/47, Annex II, para. 149; A/HRC/57/60, Annex II,
paras. 160-165.
132 https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=25866
and https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2021/06/uae-un-expert-condemns-long-term-detentionhuman-rights-defenders.
133 https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=36081.
134 A/HRC/42/30, para. 78 and Annex I, paras. 103–104; A/HRC/45/36, Annex II, paras. 131;
A/HRC/48/28 Annex II, paras. 138.
135 A/HRC/57/60, Annex II, para 169. A/HRC/51/47, Annex I para. 77; A/HRC/54/61, Annex II,
para. 136. See also VEN 7/2021.
136 A/HRC/57/60, Annex I, paras 113-116.
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