Brief 1:
Blogger, dichter en mensenrechtenactivist Ahmed Mansoor weigerde te zwijgen. Hij bleef zich openlijk uitspreken over onrecht in de Verenigde Arabische Emiraten. Daarvoor betaalt hij al 9 jaar een hoge prijs. De autoriteiten pakten Ahmed in 2017 op. Hij kreeg 10 jaar gevangenisstraf omdat hij op sociale media en in interviews kritiek uitte op de regering en contact had met mensen-rechtenorganisaties zoals Amnesty. Een straf van 10 jaar was kennelijk nog niet genoeg. In juli 2024 werd Ahmed opnieuw veroordeeld. In een massaproces tegen 53 critici kreeg hij op basis van verzonnen terrorismeaanklachten nog eens 15 jaar celstraf erbij. Amnesty roept de president op Ahmed Mansoor vrij te laten.
Brief 2:
De Tunesische journalist en politiek commentator Zied El Heni (62) wordt gestraft omdat hij tijdens een lezing aan een universiteit scherpe kritiek uitte op de vervolging van een collega-journalist. Later deelde hij zijn opmerkingen via zijn mediaplatform Tunisian Press en op sociale media. Die kritiek kwam hem duur te staan. In mei 2026 veroordeel-de een rechtbank hem tot één jaar gevangenisstraf. Amnesty roept de president op Zied El Heni onmiddellijk vrij te
Brief 3:
In juli vorig jaar maakte de 34-jarige Angolese activist Serrote José de Oliveira (ook bekend als Generaal Nila) een live videoverslag van een protest tegen de hoge brandstofprijzen. Het protest werd met geweld neergeslagen. Agenten van de veiligheidsdienst kwamen op Serrote af en schoten hem in zijn been. Na een kort ziekenhuis bezoek nam de politie hem mee naar een commandocentrum waar hij een jaar later nog altijd zonder aanklacht vast zit. Amnesty roept de president en de minister op Serrote José de Oliveira onmiddellijk vrij te laten.
Brief 1:
To: His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
President of the United Arab Emirates
Presidential Court
P.O. Box 280
Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates
Arnhem, August 2026
Your Highness,
I am deeply concerned about the continued imprisonment of Ahmed Mansoor, who is being held solely for peacefully exercising his rights to freedom of expression and human rights advocacy. In 2018, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison because of his peaceful criticism of the authorities. On 10 July 2024, he received an additional 15-year sentence following a grossly unfair mass trial.
I am also concerned about his detention conditions. Mansoor has spent years in prolonged solitary confinement without access to reading materials. He has also reportedly been denied basic personal items and adequate living conditions.
I urge you to immediately and unconditionally release Ahmed Mansoor and quash all convictions. Pending his release, ensure he is treated in accordance with international human rights standards, including regular access to his family, lawyer and any necessary medical care.
Yours sincerely,
Brief 2:
To: H.E. President Kais Saied
President of the Republic of Tunisia
Route de la Goulette
Site archéologique de Carthage
Tunisia
Arnhem, August 2026
Your Excellency,
I am deeply concerned about the conviction and imprisonment of journalist Zied El Heni. On 7 May 2026, he was sentenced to one year in prison after criticizing the authorities' handling of a journalist's case during a seminar. He later shared his comments through his independent media outlet, Tunisian Press, and on social media. He was arrested on 24 April 2026. Zied El Heni is imprisoned solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression.
His conviction is based on Article 86 of Tunisia's Telecommunications Code, a provision that has long been used to prosecute individuals for criticizing the authorities. As a result, journalists, bloggers and activists face criminal prosecution simply for expressing their views.
I urge you to immediately and unconditionally release Zied El Heni, quash his conviction, and end the use of criminal laws against those who peacefully express their views.
Yours sincerely,
Brief 3:
To: President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço
President of the Republic of Angola
Palácio Presidencial
Rua 17 de Setembro
Cidade Alta, Luanda
Angola
To: Minister of Justice and Human Rights
Marcy Cláudio Lopes
Casarão da Justiça
Rua 17 de Setembro
Ingombota, Luanda
Angola
Arnhem, August 2026
Your Excellency,
I wish to express my deep concern about the shooting and continued arbitrary detention of Serrote José de Oliveira (also known as General Nila), an activist and leader of the UNTRA Movement (Unidade Nacional para a Total Revolução de Angola). On 28 July 2025, he was shot by security forces while filming a live video of a strike in Luanda. After a brief hospital visit, he was forcibly taken into police custody. He has remained detained ever since without any formal charges being brought against him.
Angolan authorities have linked his detention to accusations under Angola’s Vandalism Law, despite key provisions of that law having been declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court in December 2025. The authorities have failed to present credible evidence against him while repeatedly obstructing his lawyers’ access to the case file, raising serious concerns about fair trial guarantees and due process.
I urge you to ensure Serrote José de Oliveira’s immediate release unless the authorities promptly present a lawful basis for his detention and fully respect his fair trial rights.
Yours sincerely,
