United Arab Emirates jails activist for 10 years ‘for defaming nation’ – Swordpress Nigeria

Ahmed Mansoor, a 48-year-old father of four, was arrested in
March last year
A prominent activist in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been
sentenced to 10 years in prison for “defaming” the country on
social media.

Ahmed Mansoor, a 48-year-old father of four, was arrested in
March last year.

Rights group had condemned his detention, saying that he was
held in solitary confinement without a lawyer.

He has also been fined one million dirhams ($272,000; £205,000)
and will be placed under surveillance for three years after his
release.

Mansoor was cleared of co-operating with a terrorist
organisation, but found guilty of using social media sites to
“publish false information that damages the country’s reputation”
and to “spread hatred and sectarianism”, local media reported on
Wednesday.

In 2011, he was one of five activists arrested after calling for
political or economic reforms. All were later pardoned by
authorities.

Four years later, Mansoor received the Martin Ennals Award for
Human Rights Defenders for what was cited as his work in raising
concerns about arbitrary detention, torture and degrading treatment
in the UAE, in the face of repeated intimidation and
harassment.

Despite being one of the wealthiest countries in the Middle East
and promoting hi-tech sectors and innovations, the UAE remains
restrictive on political activity.

The federation of seven states, which include Abu Dhabi and
Dubai, has no official opposition and bans political parties.

In 2013, almost 70 Islamists were given jail sentences over an
alleged plot to overthrow the government.

Last year, when the UAE and a number of other Arab states cut
ties with Qatar, the Emirati attorney general warned that citizens
expressing sympathy for Qatar could face heavy fines and prison
sentences of up to 15 years.