Calls for boycott over Cornell Whitfield detention in Dubai

TreySongz’ bodyguard, Cornell Whitfield from Miami, was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment in jails notorious for human rights abuses. The celebrity bodyguard was charged with “assault” when he was forced to protect his client, rapper TreySongz, against a Jordanian man’s aggressive advances. It’s important to remember that private citizens can essentially activate the police to open criminal prosecutions and it’s up to the individual whether to close the case or not. In Cornell’s case, the complainant requested $60,000 to cancel the case but lawyers advised him not to pay, because it would likely lead to further increased demands.

His 1 year sentence was overturned during his legal appeal, but Dubai courts have failed him. He has appeared in court on three separate occasions, hoping that each one would result in his freedom to leave the Emirates. When he turned up the first time with his legal team, he was told the Jordanian complainant was “ill” and the court granted a postponement. Cornell was told to wait another miserable several weeks causing him to miss his then 2 year old son’s birthday.