Ahmed Abdul Khaleq

Ahmed Abdul Khaleq (; born ) is a blogger and activist of the stateless Bedoon minority who formerly resided in Ajman in the United Arab Emirates. From April to November 2011, he was imprisoned as one of the UAE Five on charges of insulting United Arab Emirates President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Amnesty International designated him a prisoner of conscience, and he was released following a presidential pardon. In May 2012, he was rearrested and given a choice between indefinite detention or exile. On 16 July, he left the country for Thailand.

The UAE Five Inspired by the growing momentum of the pro-democracy Arab Spring, Emirati activists began to be more vocal in their opposition to the UAE government in early 2011. Bin Ghaith, an "outspoken economics professor", was arrested on 11 April for his call for "democratic and economic reforms". Mansoor, an engineer, blogger, and member of Human Rights Watch, was arrested the same day for signing a petition in favor of an elected parliament, The New York Times, and various other media. Amnesty International designated the five prisoners of conscience and called for their immediate and unconditional release, recruiting comedians and writers to lobby for their cause at the 2011 Edinburgh Festival. The organization also coined the name "The UAE Five" to refer to the men, which was later adopted by some media sources. Human Rights Watch condemned the trial as "an attack on free expression", and Front Line Defenders, the Index on Censorship, and the Arabic Network For Human Rights Information also called for the men's release. Scholars at Risk, and the Committee of Concerned Scientists.

Trial, conviction, and pardon Their trial began on 14 June 2011 in Abu Dhabi. Human Rights Watch also described the trial as "grossly unfair". On 13 November, with the trial still in progress, the five began a hunger strike to protest their continued detention; Human Rights Watch reported that the five were in poor health. Following the announcement of the verdict, a pro-government protester reportedly assaulted a relative of one of the defendants despite the heavy security presence. The office of President Khalifa declined to comment to reporters on the reason for the pardon. but was granted a Comorian passport on 21 May 2012. The following day, he was arrested by authorities for his alleged ties to al-Islah, a political organization that is labeled as a terrorist organization in the UAE.

Human Rights Watch criticized the deportation, calling the action an "unlawful expulsion motivated by the government's desire to stifle dissent". Amnesty International issued a statement that "Ahmed Abdul Khaleq should never have been forced to leave the country and this event sets alarm bells ringing regarding the fate of others held in the UAE in connection with alleged plots against state security".