In a joint resolution adopted by The Left, Greens/EFA, S&D and Renew Europe groups on Thursday 16 September (383 votes in favour, 47 against and 259 abstentions), MEPs called for the immediate and unconditional release of Ahmed Mansoor and all other human rights defenders, political activists and peaceful dissidents in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) imprisoned for exercising their fundamental human rights.
More generally, the European Parliament calls for an end to the harassment of human rights defenders and the amendment of the Anti-Terrorism Act and the Anti-Cybercrime Act, which are regularly used to prosecute human rights defenders.
MEPs also call on the EEAS to propose the adoption of targeted EU measures against those responsible for serious human rights violations in the United Arab Emirates.
By a narrow majority (315 votes in favour - S&D, The Left, Greens/EFA and part of Renew Europe, 296 against - including EPP, ECR and ID, and 77 abstentions), the European Parliament also calls on international companies sponsoring Expo 2020 Dubai, which starts on 1 October 2021, to withdraw their sponsorship and encourages Member States not to participate in the event, “in order to show their disapproval of the human rights abuses in the UAE”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)