UN officials have called on the United Arab Emirates to immediately release a British businessman held in the country since 2008.
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has ruled that Ryan Cornelius has been arbitrarily detained in the United Arab Emirates since 2008, when he was arrested at Dubai airport. He contracted tuberculosis in detention.
Lawyers for the 68-year-old say he was subjected to a number of human rights abuses, including prolonged periods of solitary confinement and aggressive questioning without legal representation, before being charged with fraud in 2010 and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Two months before his release date in March 2018, he was served a new additional 20-year sentence based on UAE law which was introduced after his initial conviction.
The UN working group has condemned the human rights violations inflicted by the UAE authorities on Cornelius and calls for his immediate release, with reparations for his suffering, in accordance with international law. He demanded that the United Arab Emirates open an investigation into the detention of Cornelius.
Cornelius was arrested and detained following complicated business dealings involving powerful Emirati individuals.
The UN task force ruling states that Ryan’s human rights were violated both during his initial arrest and in the subsequent legal proceedings, which constitutes arbitrary detention.
He expresses his concern over the deteriorating health of Cornelius and explicitly asks the United Arab Emirates to release him immediately so that he can seek treatment for his tuberculosis.
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Ryan’s legal representative, Rhys Davies, said: “The mistreatment Ryan has suffered at the hands of authorities in the UAE shows a flagrant disregard for basic human rights. The FCDO cannot continue to ignore its duty to defend the rights of British citizens abroad. Mr. Cornelius has been arbitrarily detained for far too long and must be returned to his family immediately. »
Ryan’s wife, Heather Cornelius, said: “The results of this UN decision are undeniable – my husband’s human rights have been violated for so many years and it is right that he be released from prison. emergency. All of our calls to the FCDO were ignored. I now implore them to act on this official UN decision and bring my husband home.
