On Monday 16 July human rights defender Ahmad Abd Al-Khaliq was deported to Thailand after a two-month detention.

Ahmad Abd Al-Khaliq is a prominent human rights defender known for his advocacy for minority rights, and the rights of freedom of expression and association in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Ahmed Abdul Khaliq has called for the rights of the stateless people in the UAE and was one of five human rights defenders jailed last year for insulting the state's rulers after participating in a campaign seeking political reform and human rights.

Reportedly Abdul Khaliq was being deported to Thailand without any charges having been filed against him and according to his own statement he was being deported merely because of his support for stateless residents of the UAE known as Bidun.

UAE has been widely criticised for its crackdown on human rights defenders and political activists. This measure by the UAE authorities amounts to forcible removal of a person born and brought up in the UAE and is motivated solely by Ahmed Abdul Khaliq's involvement in peaceful and legitimate human rights work.

Further details on the case of Ahmed Abdul Khaliq are available here.