MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the case of human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor in UAE

14.9.2021 - (2021/2873(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 144 of the Rules of Procedure

Željana Zovko, Krzysztof Hetman, Isabel Wiseler‑Lima, Michael Gahler, José Manuel Fernandes, Sara Skyttedal, Loránt Vincze, Tomáš Zdechovský, Janina Ochojska, Miriam Lexmann, Deirdre Clune, Inese Vaidere, Andrey Kovatchev, Vladimír Bilčík, Elżbieta Katarzyna Łukacijewska, Eva Maydell, Peter Pollák, Paulo Rangel, Christian Sagartz, Magdalena Adamowicz, Stanislav Polčák, Romana Tomc, Stelios Kympouropoulos, Lefteris Christoforou, Ivan Štefanec, Luděk Niedermayer, Helmut Geuking, Michaela Šojdrová, Jiří Pospíšil, Tom Vandenkendelaere, Seán Kelly
on behalf of the PPE Group

B9‑0457/2021

European Parliament resolution on the case of human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor in UAE

(2021/2873(RSP))

The European Parliament,

 having regard to its previous resolutions on the United Arab Emirates (UAE),

- having regard to the Statement by the Spokesperson of the European External Action Service (EEAS) of 1 January 2019 on the case of Ahmed Mansoor,

- having regard to the Arab Charter on Human Rights,

-   having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

- having regard to the Cooperation Arrangement of 31 January 2018 between the EEAS and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the UAE,

-   having regard to Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas Ahmed Mansoor has been persecuted for actions and behaviour that amount to defamation, the disruption of public order, and the propagation of incitement and hatred;

B. whereas on 29 May 2018, the State Security Chamber of the Federal Court in Abu Dhabi, UAE, sentenced him to ten years imprisonment; whereas on 31 December 2018 the Federal Supreme Court upheld the conviction and 10-year prison term of Ahmed Mansoor;

C. whereas Ahmed Mansoor is the 2015 laureate of the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders;

D. whereas the EU and the UAE have an active Human Rights Dialogue, and the 10th EU-UAE Human Rights Dialogue on 9 June 2021 provided a an opportunity to discuss issues of concern with the UAE authorities;

E. whereas the EU and the UAE have developed a relationship centred on common political and regional interests;

1. Calls on the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to closely follow the case of Ahmed Mansoor and to guarantee that the EU in its talks with the UAE authorities seeks for his case to be reconsidered;

2. Underlines that it is important that UAE respects its international obligations under Human Rights Law and ensures the protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, which is not only guaranteed by universal Human Rights instruments, but also by the Arab Charter on Human Rights;

3. Supports the continued dialogue between the EU, its Member States, and the UAE; underlines that regular inter parliamentary meetings between the  European Parliament and its partners in the Gulf region are an important forum for developing a constructive and frank dialogue on issues of common concern;

4. Stresses that the Cooperation Arrangement scales up the relation between the EU and the UAE through an intensification of political dialogue and strengthened cooperation on key strategic issues of mutual interest;

5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, and the Government and Parliament of the UAE.