Former UN rights commissioner Mary Robinson, speaking in Dubai on Wednesday, called on the United Arab Emirates to release detained pro-democracy campaigner Ahmed Mansoor, who rights groups say may be suffering treatment amounting to torture.
"He is regarded by the human rights community as a brave human rights defender ... This would be a timely move also called for by the European Parliament," Robinson said while being interviewed on stage following a speech at a climate event at Expo Dubai.
The UAE has dismissed as "false and unsubstantiated" claims by UN human rights experts regarding Mansoor, who was jailed for 10 years in 2018 for criticising the government on social media.