Jihad Quzmar is the second lawyer detained in the emirate to file a High Court claim accusing Dechert of human rights abuses as a result of this investigation. A former lawyer for the emirate’s sovereign wealth fund, Karam Al Sadeq, is also suing Dechert, two of its partners and a former partner, over human rights abuses.

Following the filing of Karam’s High Court claim, the Solicitors Regulation Authority started an investigation into Neil Gerrard. Shortly afterwards, Dechert announced his departure.

The inhuman conditions in which Mr Quzmar was held at both the RAK police headquarters and at a military camp of the Ruler’s private militia, were “intended to procure the Claimant’s cooperation with Dechert’s investigation”. These conditions included “detention in a small cell, with a small window covered with a piece of wood so as to block sunlight, in dirty conditions and at times without access to a shower or toothbrush, without the ability to tell the time in order to pray, and the denial of proper access to medical treatment, exercise and visiting rights and telephone calls.”

The Claim also accuses Gerrard of threatening Mr Quzmar in interrogations in order to intimidate him into providing false confessions to implicate other associates of Sheikh Faisal. During those interrogations, Mr Quzmar “was subject to humiliating and degrading treatment, including having his hands cuffed behind his back, his feet tied with a rusty chain, his head covered and being shouted at by Mr Gerrard. Mr Gerrard told Mr Quzmar during those meetings that a condition of any settlement was that he confessed to allegations implicating Dr Massaad and Sheikh Faisal which he had already denied, including that Dr Massaad had bribed Mr Quzmar and that Sheikh Faisal had been involved in corruption in relation to the Free Zone Authority, and that unless he cooperated there would be “severe implications” for him and his family.”

Mr Quzmar’s wife, Suhad Quzmar, who was also interrogated by Mr Gerrard, said: “Neil humiliated my husband, he insulted him, he taunted him, and treated him in a way that degraded his dignity. He deprived him of his human rights, such as the presence of a lawyer when Jihad was being interrogated, the ability to call his family or receive visits from them, and for twenty three days, Jihad was denied from taking a shower, brushing his teeth, or even changing his clothes. These tactics were implemented in order to pressure my husband into providing false information that would incriminate and Sheikh Faisal and Dr Massaad, which my husband refused to do.”

Radha Stirling, Founder and CEO of Detained in Dubai and Due Process International, which represent Mr Quzmar and Mr Al Sadeq, said:

“Jihad Quzmar’s claim is further evidence that the abuse of Karam Al Sadeq was not an isolated incident, but part of a system whereby torture, persecution, and coercion are outsourced to third party professionals like Dechert and Gerrard.”

Stirling added: “Jihad was detained illegally, essentially kidnapped from his home in front of his children. His home was searched illegally and his wife has been banned from travel illegally. Jihad was also abused, threatened, and denied his basic rights, all to coerce him into capitulating to an illegal demand to falsely implicate innocent people. Allegedly, this entire disgraceful series of violations was conducted under the direction of Neil Gerrard, the representative of one of the world’s largest law firms. The court must affirm that Western lawyers remain bound by legal and ethical standards.”

Karam Al Sadeq has taken action against international law firm for human rights violations in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. #FreeKaram launched action against law firm Dechert.

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