Ahead of the COP28, human rights activists launched an online petition calling for the immediate release of Ahmed Mansoor.

We are deeply concerned about the continued detention and ill-treatment of human rights activist Ahmed Mansoor, the petition reads.

Mansoor was arrested on March 20, 2017, and has been held in solitary confinement ever since.

Mansoor is a prominent human rights defender who has worked tirelessly to promote and protect human rights in the UAE. He has been a vocal critic of the government’s human rights record and has used his platform to call for greater freedoms and democracy in the country.

 We urge the UAE authorities to release him immediately and unconditionally, the petition said.

The petition also calls on the UAE to respect the rights of all human rights defenders and to ensure that they are able to carry out their work without fear of intimidation, harassment, or arrest.