unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: The case of human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor in UAE
Date: THURSDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Ernest Urtasun
Country: Belgium
Language: EN

The new Counter—Terrorism Law, issued in 2014, is particularly worrying as it provides the authorities with broad powers to prosecute peaceful critics, political dissidents and human rights activists and to declare them terrorists. This law should be immediately changed in order to comply with international standards. Meanwhile, the situation of human rights and freedoms in the country has dramatically worsened since 2011, and women continue to be subject to a range of discriminatory laws and practices. The Personal Status Law remains, in this regard, a stumbling block for women’s equal rights. It is time to end our complacency towards a government engaged in the brutal repression of its human rights activists and regional destabilisation, while seeking to project the image of a moderate, reliable and stable partner. In that respect, the candidacy of General—Major Nasser Ahmed al-Raisi in the election for Interpol’s presidency could call into question the credibility of the institution. The allegations of human rights abuses against him should be seriously considered before the election is held next November. The EU and its Member States should do more to guarantee the respect of human rights in the country and make it a permanent item on the agenda of the annual summit between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Without clear guidelines and commitments, our human rights dialogue with the Emirates will not result in any improvement of the situation. During his upcoming visit to the Emirates, Vice-President / High Representative Borrell should call for the immediate and unconditional release of Ahmed Mansoor and that of other human rights defenders like Mohamed al-Roken, and Nasser bin Ghaith.  In our resolution, we call on the EU to consider the adoption of EU targeted measures against those responsible for grave human rights violations, including the persecution of Ahmed Mansoor and other human rights defenders under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions regime.
Debate: The case of human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor in UAE
Date: THURSDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Miguel Urbán Crespo
Country: Belgium
Language: ES

Ahmed Mansur lleva más de cuatro años detenido en una celda de dos metros, sin contacto ni con familiares ni con otros presos. Por no tener, no tiene ni agua caliente ni, tan siquiera, un colchón donde dormir. Uno de los cargos de los que fue acusado Ahmed se basa en  Pero ¡ojo!: esto ya lo dijimos en la Resolución de 2018 de este Parlamento. La Unión Europea y sus empresas ni han asumido ninguna responsabilidad ni han hecho nada para evitar que esta violación de los derechos humanos continúe.  De hecho, países como España se han dedicado a firmar acuerdos de venta de armas y dar cursillos entre policías y ofrecer jornadas con francotiradores, mientras los Emiratos mantenían en prisión a activistas y a tuiteros.  ¿Cómo pueden seguir intercambiando armas, equipos de seguridad, con los Emiratos mientras se violan los derechos humanos?  Por tanto, creemos que es momento de exigir la libertad inmediata de Mansur y de todos los presos políticos; que se aplique una moratoria inmediata de la venta de transferencia y uso de tecnología de vigilancia a los Emiratos; que se establezca un verdadero embargo de armas, porque no podemos ser cómplices de los actos de represión y torturas que se cometen en los Emiratos; y que las relaciones políticas, comerciales y de cooperación se condicionen a resultados en materia de derechos humanos.  Mansur dijo que la única forma de contrarrestar la represión en su país era haciéndola pública. No dejemos que sus denuncias le cuesten la vida. No podemos seguir siendo cómplices silenciosos priorizando los beneficios a los derechos humanos.
Debate: The case of human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor in UAE
Date: THURSDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Krzysztof Hetman
Country: Netherlands
Language: PL

Zjednoczone Emiraty Arabskie to bardzo ważny partner Unii Europejskiej w Zatoce Perskiej, który kontynuuje swoją współpracę w ramach ONZ, a do swojej konstytucji ma wpisaną gwarancję wolności poglądów i wolności zgromadzeń. Władze Zjednoczonych Emiratów Arabskich wielokrotnie też zapewniały o swojej gotowości do czynienia dalszych postępów w zakresie ochrony praw człowieka. Jest to partner, z którym możemy i powinniśmy rozmawiać. Prowadzenie dialogu między Unią Europejską a Zjednoczonymi Emiratami Arabskimi na temat praw człowieka jest więc sprawą ogromnej wagi. Powinniśmy kontynuować ten dialog i szczególnie skupić się na takich kwestiach jak swoboda wypowiedzi, swobodne funkcjonowanie niezależnych mediów i prawo do informacji. Ponadto uważam, że powinniśmy zaangażować władze Zjednoczonych Emiratów Arabskich w debatę na temat tego konkretnego przypadku, przypadku Ahmeda Mansura, a także apelować do władz Zjednoczonych Emiratów Arabskich o ponowne rozpatrzenie jego sprawy i zagwarantowanie mu uczciwego procesu z możliwością udziału zewnętrznych obserwatorów.  Zwracamy się także do Zjednoczonych Emiratów Arabskich o zagwarantowanie, że Ahmed Mansur jest traktowany w zgodzie z podstawowymi zasadami Organizacji Narodów Zjednoczonych dotyczącymi traktowania więźniów, czyli tzw. zasadami Nelsona Mandeli, a w szczególności, że ma dostęp do opieki medycznej o takim samym standardzie jak osoby wolne, dostęp do leków i możliwość kontaktu z rodziną czy swoim obrońcą. Należy podkreślić, że bardzo ważne jest, aby Zjednoczone Emiraty Arabskie szanowały swoje międzynarodowe zobowiązania w zakresie praw człowieka i zagwarantowały wolność wypowiedzi, która jest także ujęta w Arabskiej karcie praw człowieka.  Zdecydowanie powinniśmy wspierać więc wszystkie reformy przeprowadzane przez Zjednoczone Emiraty Arabskie w celu lepszej ochrony praw człowieka i wolności obywateli. Należy jednocześnie dbać o utrzymanie dobrych wzajemnych stosunków pomiędzy Unią Europejską a Zjednoczonymi Emiratami Arabskimi, ponieważ takie stosunki pozwalają na prowadzenie bardziej intensywnego dialogu politycznego, skuteczniejsze interwencje Unii w ważnych kwestiach, a także współpracę i dialog w zakresie kluczowych interesów wspólnych dla obu stron w tak ważnych obszarach, jak na przykład bezpieczeństwo, stabilność na Bliskim Wschodzie czy walka z terroryzmem. Unia Europejska powinna w dalszym ciągu blisko monitorować sprawę Ahmeda Mansura i podnosić tę kwestię w dialogu ze Zjednoczonymi Emiratami Arabskimi, apelując o ponowne rozpatrzenie jego sprawy.
Debate: The case of human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor in UAE
Date: THURSDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Adam Bielan
Country: France
Language: EN

I call on the United Arab Emirates’ authorities to live up to their international obligations, and urge the removal of Mr Mansoor from solitary confinement. Fundamental rights, such as freedom of speech and expression, but also a fair trial, should always be respected.  Finally, while maintaining high—level political dialogue, the EU – and especially the High Representative – should continue actively raising human rights concerns with the United Arab Emirates.
Debate: The case of human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor in UAE
Date: THURSDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Seán Kelly
Political group: PPE
Country: Greece
Language: EN

Ahmed Mansoor is part of a long list of so-called prisoners of conscience in the UAE, imprisoned for exercising their legitimate freedom to speak out against the government. The EU and the UAE have developed a strong diplomatic relationship centred on common political and regional interests. That’s good. However, regular dialogue between the EU, its Member States and the UAE on the issue of human rights must also be upheld.  The UAE is the first country in the Gulf region with which the EU set up a comprehensive dialogue on human rights. It is imperative that the EU continue to monitor the human rights situation in the country and consistently address judicial developments and the UAE authorities at various levels. Meaningful human rights targets must be adopted and a list of individual cases made public in order to foster a genuine and results-based discussion on human rights during the EU’s dialogue with the UAE.  Although the country has made some strides in recent years to improve its human rights record and portray itself as a modern, progressive, tolerant and rights-based nation, the case of Ahmed Mansoor is utterly disappointing and affirms that there is a long way to go to truly achieve this recognition.
Debate: The case of human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor in UAE
Date: THURSDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Marc Tarabella
Political group: S-D
Country: Austria
Language: FR

Avant son arrestation, Ahmed Mansoor était la seule voix indépendante qui osait traiter les violations des droits humains dans le pays, par le biais de son blog et de son compte Twitter. Il a fait l’objet de menaces de mort répétées, d’intimidation et de harcèlement de la part des autorités. Il est à présent détenu à la prison d’Abou Dhabi dans un état critique. Il est à l’isolement et n’a été autorisé à sortir de sa cellule qu’à de très, très rares reprises. Je regrette profondément l’approche diplomatique timide et infructueuse adoptée jusqu’à présent par l’Union européenne et ses États membres, car elle contraste fortement avec les lignes directrices et les engagements en matière de droits de l’homme. Notre patience a des limites. Il est temps d’agir. Tout d’abord, nous exhortons le Haut représentant de l’Union européenne et les États membres à exiger la libération d’Ahmed Mansour. Ensuite, nous demandons aux délégations de l’Union européenne et des États membres à Abou Dhabi de fournir tout le soutien approprié à Ahmed Mansoor en attendant sa libération. Et enfin, nous prions instamment le Service européen pour l'action extérieure de reconsidérer son dialogue informel sur les droits de l’homme avec les Émirats arabes unis et de le suspendre jusqu’à ce que des progrès significatifs en cette matière aient été démontrés.
Debate: The case of human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor in UAE
Date: THURSDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Hannah Neumann
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Sweden
Language: EN

And it is by far not the first time that we are discussing this issue here in Parliament, that we call for the immediate and unconditional release of all those peaceful activists. But despite the many years of international calls for their release, the United Arab Emirates leadership has not moved an inch.  Even worse, since the arrest, the second arrest, of Ahmed Mansoor in March 2017, he has been in solitary confinement. His wife has only been allowed to visit him a few times. This is unacceptable. In early October, I will nevertheless be going to Dubai to visit the Expo. I will be speaking for the European Parliament. I will be discussing the EU Green Deal, and how we can work together to stop the climate crisis. And as much as such an engagement and cooperation on the side of climate is necessary, we cannot and should never remain silent on the human rights issues. This is why, with the same visit, I have put in a request to visit Ahmed Mansoor and other political detainees in the UAE prisons.  As much as the Expo 2020 is an opportunity for the government, the leadership of the United Arab Emirates, to present itself as an international host and actor, it should extend the same courtesy and hospitality to its own citizens, including those that dare to be critical.
Debate: The case of human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor in UAE
Date: THURSDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Maximilian Krah
Political group: ID
Country: Greece
Language: DE

Und dass wir dieses Erfolgsmodell, das doch eine sehr tolerante, in der islamischen Welt einzigartige Erfolgsgeschichte ist, hier derartig abkanzeln, das lässt mich staunen. Und es führt zurück zu eben genau jener Art von Neokolonialismus, dass wir glauben, wir müssten vom hohen Ross herab die ganze Welt belehren über die Art und Weise, wie sie ihr eigenes Land zu regieren haben. Ich glaube, dass die Emiratis selbst wissen, wie sie ihr Land zu regieren haben. Und wenn es Fragen gibt, die wir haben, und wenn es Punkte gibt, die wir für unerträglich halten, dann kann man anfragen und in einen Dialog treten. Man sollte aufhören, die ganze Welt zu belehren. Die Zeiten, in denen Europa die ganze Welt belehren konnte, sind vorbei. Und es sind Sie in der Mitte, die regelmäßig meinen, Sie müssten unsere Geschichte wegen Kolonialismus angreifen. Aber Sie betreiben hier einen Neokolonialismus, der dem alten in nichts nachsteht. Ich habe mir die Mühe gemacht, bei der emiratischen Botschaft anzufragen, wie die Lage tatsächlich ist. Sie wird etwas anders dargestellt, was Wunder. Und ich glaube, der richtige Weg ist: Tun Sie das auch. Treten Sie in Dialog, aber hören Sie auf, verlässliche Partner und vor allen Dingen auch Länder in der islamischen Welt, die wirksam dem Islamismus entgegentreten und eine islamische Alternative dazu anzubieten haben, hier in einer Art und Weise abzukanzeln, die nichts anderes als Ablehnung von der anderen Seite hervorrufen wird. Kehren Sie zurück zur Diplomatie, und hören Sie auf, Lehrmeister des Rechts der Welt zu sein!
Debate: The case of human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor in UAE
Date: THURSDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Joachim Stanisław Brudziński
Political group: ECR
Country: Germany
Language: PL

Wszyscy mamy w pamięci niezwykle ważne dla chrześcijan mieszkających w tamtym regionie przyjęcie przez władze Zjednoczonych Emiratów Arabskich papieża Franciszka i mszę odprawioną w tamtym państwie dla chrześcijan. Dlatego tak ważne jest, abyśmy uczynili wszystko, aby wywrzeć presję na władze Zjednoczonych Emiratów Arabskich, aby uwolniły poetę Ahmeda Manura.
Debate: The case of human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor in UAE
Date: THURSDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Fabio Massimo Castaldo
Political group: NI
Country: France
Language: IT

Signora Presidente, signora Commissaria, onorevoli colleghi, quattro anni in una prigione di quattro metri quadri, senza contatto umano, tranne qualche brevissima visita. Quattro anni senza radio, senza televisione, senza nemmeno un libro per fuggire, almeno con il pensiero, da quella cella d'isolamento; non un letto, non un materasso, ma solo una coperta gettata per dormire. Queste sono le condizioni di detenzione medievali e inaccettabili dell'attivista per i diritti umani Ahmed Mansoor, descritte da una relazione di  Gli Emirati Arabi vantano spesso tolleranza e modernità, ma nella storia di Ahmed e delle altre 60 persone, tra cui attivisti, avvocati, studenti e insegnanti, detenuti arbitrariamente a seguito del processo collettivo ingiusto del caso UAE94, si può leggere la graduale trasformazione degli Emirati in uno Stato di polizia ultrarepressivo, in cui la persecuzione di chiunque si esponga su questioni politiche e di diritti umani è sistematica. Urge che l'Unione europea si faccia alfiere di una reazione forte e decisa contro il cospicuo silenzio che purtroppo hanno visto questi abusi, per sanzionare i responsabili materiali di queste violazioni, ma per avviare anche un dialogo serio e puntuale, che coinvolga auspicabilmente anche Stati Uniti e Regno Unito, con gli Emirati Arabi sul tema dei diritti umani, mettendo in chiaro che la continuazione delle nostre relazioni commerciali è condizionata al rilascio incondizionato di Ahmed e di tutti gli altri attivisti e al rispetto dei diritti umani e delle libertà fondamentali, perché no, per noi i diritti umani non sono
Debate: The case of human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor in UAE
Date: THURSDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Maria Arena
Political group: S-D
Country: Belgium
Language: FR

Madame la Présidente, Madame la Commissaire, l’urgence d’aujourd’hui concernant Ahmed Mansoor, qu’on appelle le dernier défenseur des droits humains aux Émirats arabes unis et qui croupit aujourd’hui depuis 2017 dans une prison du désert, nous permet de mettre en lumière la question des droits de l’homme dans les Émirats arabes unis. Human Rights Watch documente largement les abus des droits humains aux Émirats arabes unis. Arrestations arbitraires d’avocats, de juges, d’enseignants, de journalistes. C’est la situation quotidienne des défenseurs des droits de l’homme dans ce pays. Donc, dans ce contexte, nous demandons dans cette résolution bien entendu la libération immédiate d’Ahmed Mansoor, mais aussi de tous les prisonniers d’opinion qui, aujourd’hui, sont dans les prisons des Émirats arabes unis, et l’accès à ces prisons par des experts des Nations unies, mais aussi des organisations internationales. Enfin, nous exprimons notre inquiétude de voir un responsable émirati à la tête d’Interpol alors qu’il est lui-même en cause dans des répressions graves de militants des droits humains.
Debate: The case of human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor in UAE
Date: THURSDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Jakop G. Dalunde
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Italy
Language: SV

Fru talman! Nu börjar svenskar återigen resa till Dubai för att roa sig. Förra året var Förenade Arabemiraten dessutom den största mottagaren av svensk vapenexport. Samtidigt behandlar landet Ahmed Mansoor och andra försvarare av mänskliga rättigheter på fruktansvärda sätt. I över tio år har Ahmed Mansoor utsatts för godtyckliga gripanden, dödshot och misshandel. Sedan fängslandet 2017 har han suttit fyra år i isoleringscell. Detta är en behandling som går att likställa med tortyr. Det här är en bild som skär sig mot den toleranta yta som emiraten vill lägga fram. EU måste agera och överväga åtgärder mot det som allvarligt kränker de mänskliga rättigheterna. Ahmed Mansoor förtjänar att behandlas med respekt och på ett drägligt sätt. Emiraten måste avbryta hans isolering och börja respektera varje människas rätt och värdighet.
Debate: The case of human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor in UAE
Date: THURSDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Dominique Bilde
Political group: ID
Country: Germany
Language: FR

Madame la Présidente, le cas tragique du militant des droits de l’homme Ahmed Mansoor souligne la persistance de l’arbitraire dans tous les pays où l’état de droit n’est pas la règle. Certes, la législation pénale et le système pénitentiaire relèvent de la souveraineté de chaque État. Toutefois, le traitement judiciaire et carcéral dont Ahmed Mansoor fait l’objet viole non seulement les normes internationales en la matière, mais également les directives du juge compétent ainsi que les textes nationaux applicables. Il est également patent que ce cas d’espèce s’inscrit dans un contexte général de graves restrictions des droits fondamentaux, notamment d’opinion et d’expression. Cette tendance concerne évidemment au premier chef les États où l’autoritarisme était déjà ancré, en l’occurrence ceux du Golfe. À cet égard, il est urgent de s’interroger sur le rôle éventuellement joué par la société NSO, dont l’ombre avait plané sur l’affaire Kashoggi, ainsi que, d’une manière générale, sur le recours aux technologies de surveillance contre certains activistes politiques. Pour autant, la dénonciation de ce drame ne saurait s’apparenter à une condamnation sans nuance des Émirats arabes unis, dont il faut rappeler la contribution à la lutte contre l’islamisme sur leur sol et dans le monde. Ce pays a par exemple classé comme organisation terroriste les Frères musulmans ou encore Islamic Relief Worldwide. Ceci est d’autant plus remarquable à l’heure où un autre État du Golfe, le Qatar, est quant à lui accusé de compromission avec les mouvements radicaux. En témoigne le blocus initié contre ce pays en 2017. Indiscutablement, des progrès immenses restent à accomplir dans le domaine des droits fondamentaux, dont celui des droits sociaux. L’affaire Ahmed Mansoor appelle une réprobation sans réserve, le sort des travailleurs sous le joug du système inique de la kafala ne laisse personne indifférent. L’ensemble de ces questions doit figurer à l’ordre du jour du dialogue bilatéral avec les Émirats, pays par ailleurs partenaire dans le combat contre le terrorisme islamiste.
Debate: The case of human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor in UAE
Date: THURSDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Pierfrancesco Majorino
Political group: S-D
Country: Ireland
Language: IT

Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, Ahmed Mansoor è una voce libera, che ha sempre denunciato le violazioni dei diritti umani negli Emirati Arabi, e per il suo sacrosanto diritto alla libertà di pensiero sta scontando una condanna di 10 anni, detenuto in condizioni indegne. Ne chiediamo oggi con forza l'immediato rilascio, così come quello di tutti i difensori dei diritti umani, attivisti, dissidenti politici, imprigionati solo per aver esercitato diritti fondamentali. Oggi la persecuzione dei difensori dei diritti umani negli Emirati è sistematica. È stata infatti intensificata la repressione della libertà di associazione e della libertà di espressione; i difensori dei diritti umani sono vittime di sparizioni forzate, detenzioni arbitrarie e prolungate, torture e processi iniqui. Gli Emirati fanno inoltre un ampio uso di mezzi illegali di sorveglianza e intercettazione dei dissidenti, sia nel paese che all'estero, ed è una vergogna che gli Stati dell'Unione consentano l'esportazione di tecnologie di cibersorveglianza verso paesi che hanno questa considerazione dei diritti umani e dei diritti fondamentali. Anche su questo bisogna voltare pagina e assicurare una coerenza alle azioni dell'Unione.
Debate: The case of human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor in UAE
Date: THURSDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Ylva Johansson
Language: EN

Since the first round of our human rights dialogue in 2013, we have addressed areas of concern with the United Arab Emirates. We have seen improvements when it comes, for example, to gender issues and religious tolerance, but nonetheless, concerns remain in a number of areas and on some individual cases which we continue to raise with the Emirati authorities. Ahmed Mansoor is one of these cases which we have been actively following, both from Brussels as well as via our delegation in Abu Dhabi. We regularly seek clarifications from the Emirati authorities on his situation, his health and his access to medical treatment. In doing so, we have constantly reiterated the EU’s principled position in support of human rights defenders and freedom of expression in line with the EU guidelines. Following the confirmation of Mansoor’s 10-year sentence in December 2018, the EU stressed publicly that no one should be detained for peacefully expressing his or her opinions. At the most recent dialogue held on 9 June, the EU again stressed the importance of accountability and respect for the UN Mandela Rules. We also encouraged the Emirati authorities to consider acceding to core UN human rights treaties and to invite UN special procedures. The meeting also allowed raising individual cases, including that of Ahmed Mansoor. In the same vein, and in the context of the COVID pandemic, the EU Special Representative for Human Rights raised the cases of imprisoned activists with Emirati authorities, pleading for their release, even on humanitarian grounds. The intensification of overall EU engagement with the United Arab Emirates in the past year should lead to an improvement of the country’s human rights situation. We have already started sharing EU expertise in specific human rights-related domains. We also look forward to engaging with the United Arab Emirates on its National Action Plan for Human Rights, which is under preparation. The EU will remain actively engaged on human rights and human rights defenders in the United Arab Emirates. The envisaged missions of High Representative / Vice-President Borrell will offer an additional opportunity to stress the importance of civil and political rights in the country. We will continue to follow closely and raise the case of Ahmed Mansoor. We will do this in a spirit of partnership but remain steadfast in our principles and expectations.