/ / UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: SUDANESE POLITICAL ACTIVIST DETAINED IN UAE

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: SUDANESE POLITICAL ACTIVIST DETAINED IN UAE

UA: 47.26

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Mohammed Farouk Salman Mahmoud is a Sudanese political activist and transitional justice advocate who has been detained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since January 19, 2025. He moved to the UAE in early 2023. On January 19, 2025, while at Dubai Airport preparing to board a flight out of the UAE, he was arrested by Emirati security officials and taken to his house where they searched his belongings and confiscated his devices before detaining him at an undisclosed location. At the time of his detention, he was recovering from a major surgical procedure, raising significant concerns regarding his health and well-being. In April 2025, the UAE authorities claimed he was being investigated for insulting the head of the UAE state. He is currently detained at the Al Sadr Prison in Abu Dhabi.

Urge the UAE authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Mohammed Farouk Salman Mahmoud.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: November 22, 2026

Here is how you can take action:

Send a letter to the Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Interior of UAE
Send an email to the Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Interior of UAE
Send a message to the UAE Ambassador to the United States using the web contact form in step 2
Post on social media

Scroll down to Step 1 and Step 2 to access the full Urgent Action appeal, email to the UAE authorities, and sample letter, and U.S.P.S. mailing address (if available).

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Step 1

READ THE FULL URGENT ACTION

Enter your email address and zip code to get the sample letter to send to government officials.

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You can now write a letter in your own words or download the sample below as a guide.

Remember to send your letter by November 22, 2026.

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Sample Letter

Dear HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan,

I am concerned about Mohammed Farouk Salman Mahmoud, a Sudanese political activist and transitional justice advocate, who has been held in arbitrary detention in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since January 19, 2025.

On January 19, 2025, he was arrested by Emirati security officials and taken to his house where they searched his belongings and confiscated his devices. Mohammed Farouk Salman Mahmoud was then detained in an undisclosed location for several weeks. He is currently detained at the Al Sadr Prison in Abu Dhabi. At the time of his arrest, Mohammed Farouk Salman Mahmoud was recovering from a major surgical operation, which raises concerns about his health and wellbeing in detention.

In April 2025, the UAE General Prosecution’s official website stated that Mohammed Farouk Salman Mahmoud is being investigated by the UAE Federal Specialized Prosecution for insulting the head of state. However, more than one year on, he has yet to be formally charged or taken to court.

I urge you to immediately and unconditionally release Mohammed Farouk Salman Mahmoud and ensure, pending his release, that he has regular and unmonitored access to his family, lawyers, and adequate health care. I urge you, pending his release, to ensure that he is protected from torture or other ill-treatment and held in conditions that meet international human rights standards.

Yours sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

Step 2

Send your message

Mail your letter to the government officials listed below. You can also email, fax, call, or post about them on social media.

Send your letter to:

Minister of Interior, Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan

P.O. Box 398, Abu Dhabi

United Arab Emirates

[email protected] @SaifBZayed

and

CC: Embassy of UAE in the United States, Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba

Send a copy of your letter to the address below

3522 International Court, NW, Suite 400,

Washington DC 20008

Contact Webform: https://www.uae-embassy.org/contact#paragraph–109

When writing your letter, don’t forget to be factual, brief, and show respect. See more letter writing tips and emails, or organize and host a letter writing party.

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