PEN International, the global association of writers, has consistently expressed deep concern over the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) continued imprisonment of prominent human rights defenders Ahmed Mansoor and Dr. Mohammed al-Roken. Both have been subjected to severe judicial actions that PEN International and other human rights organizations have denounced as clear violations of freedom of expression and international human rights standards.

Ahmed Mansoor, an Emirati poet, blogger, and human rights activist, was arrested on March 20, 2017, at his home. He was subsequently convicted on charges including “insulting the status and prestige of the UAE and its symbols,” and sentenced to 10 years in prison along with a fine of 1,000,000 Emirati Dirhams. In July 2024, he was convicted again in the widely criticized “UAE 84” case and handed an additional 15-year sentence for allegedly supporting the Justice and Dignity Committee.

PEN International has drawn attention to the inhumane conditions of Mansoor’s imprisonment. He is held in solitary confinement in an isolation ward at Al-Sadr prison in Abu Dhabi, without access to basic necessities such as a bed or reading materials. His contact with the outside world is severely restricted, and he is denied adequate medical care, raising serious concerns about his physical and psychological well-being.

Dr. Mohammed al-Roken, a respected Emirati lawyer and academic, was arrested in July 2012. He was among 94 individuals tried in the mass “UAE 94” case, which was widely condemned for lacking due process and failing to meet international fair trial standards. Al-Roken was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his peaceful advocacy, including signing an online petition calling for political reform.

PEN International has condemned al-Roken’s imprisonment as a direct attack on the legitimate work of human rights defenders in the UAE. The organization continues to call for his immediate and unconditional release.

In coordination with more than 50 non-governmental organizations and international figures, PEN International has sent open letters to UAE authorities demanding the release of Mansoor, al-Roken, and other prisoners of conscience. These appeals point to a broader pattern of repression in the UAE targeting individuals who peacefully exercise their rights to freedom of expression and association.

Despite mounting international pressure, UAE authorities have yet to respond positively to these calls. PEN International reaffirms its unwavering commitment to defending the rights of writers and human rights defenders around the world, stressing that the cases of Ahmed Mansoor and Dr. Mohammed al-Roken constitute serious violations that must be urgently addressed.