The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) has received information that 18-year-old human rights activist Mohammed Salim Al-Zumur was arrested on 5 December 2012. He was active on social media websites such as facebook where he expressed support for the detained human rights defenders and activists in UAE. He also had spoken out about the case of UAE5 in 2011.

At approximately at 9pm on 5 December 2012 Mohammed Salim Al-Zumur and his friend were arrested on the street by plain-clothes security officials who took their personal belongings including mobile phones and ipads. The friend of the on-line activist was left back at his home. The security officials then went to the home of Mohammed Salim Al-Zumur where they showed an arrest and search warrant to his family. The warrant reportedly stated that the grounds for the search were a “matter of state security” and no further details were provided. They proceeded to search the house for approximately one hour and confiscated some electronic equipments.

Mohammed Salim Al-Zumur was brought to an undisclosed location and his current whereabouts remain unknown.

The arrest of Mohammed Salim Al-Zumur comes in the context of on-going repression of human rights defenders in the UAE. Human rights activists in the UAE are subject to arrest and detention, interrogation, imposition of travel bans, and closure of their bank accounts. According to information received a travel ban has been imposed on some members of Mohammed Salim Al-Zumur’s family and his supporters. It is feared that more on-line activists may be arrested in the wake of his arrest as it appears that now on-line activists are being targeted.

The GCHR is extremely concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of defender Mohammed Salim Al-Zumur particularly as his whereabouts are unknown. The GCHR believes that his arrest and detention are directly related to his on-line activism and the legitimate exercise of his right to freedom of expression.

The GCHR urges the authorities in UAE to:

1. Immediately and unconditionally release human rights defender Mohammed Salim Al-Zumur;
2. Grant Mohammed Salim Al-Zumur immediate and unfettered access to the medical treatment which he requires;
3. Guarantee the physical and psychological integrity and security of Mohammed Salim Al-Zumur;
4. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in UAE are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment. 

The GCHR respectfully reminds you that the United Nations Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted by consensus by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998, recognises the legitimacy of the activities of human rights defenders, their right to freedom of association and to carry out their activities without fear of reprisals. We would particularly draw your attention to Article 6 (c) “Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others: (c) To study, discuss, form and hold opinions on the observance, both in law and in practice, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and, through these and other appropriate means, to draw public attention to those matters” and to Article 12.2, which provides that “the State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration”.