On April 10th a human rights activist was arrested in the UAE. Ahmed Mansoor, an activist that "recently called on the government to establish an elected parliament as well as give more freedoms to citizens" was recently honored by Human Rights Watch for his efforts to promote human rights within the UAE. The entire case is raising suspicion because the police had come to his house the night before at 3 AM to question him about his car. Other human rights activists are commenting that the UAE is detaining him to scare and intimidate other people that agree with the views of Ahmed.
The reports on why he is being held is inconsistent as well. Reuters was unable to reach the police spokesman and the local paper, The National, stated that the police "said Mansoor was arrested in connection with a criminal case". On April 12th the public was told that Mansoor was arrested for charges on alcohol since it is illegal under Islamic sharia law for muslims to be in procession of or to consume alcohol. Although it is sold in hotels and bars, there was no evidence that he was carrying any.
His location is also being withheld too and Human Rights Watch called on the government to "disclose his whereabouts and condition".
"A day before his arrest, Mansoor had sent an email to colleagues and friends saying he was worried police would try to plant something in his car to create a reason for his arrest."
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/12/us-emirates-activists-idUSTRE73B2EP20110412
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/world/uae-detains-rights-activist-rights-group-says-54472.html
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