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Inquest into death of British national in Dubai custody set for October 31st.  Albert Douglas testimony from prison. Over a decade later, the trial date for an Inquest into the death of Lee Bradley Brown has finally been set. On the week commencing the 31st of October, a jury will deliberate over whether Lee Bradley Brown’s life was ended by Dubai police.  Listen to Albert Douglas ' testimony from prison on Lee Bradley Brown: “The evidence is compelling”, explained expert witness Radha Stirling , founder of Detained in Dubai . “There are multiple witnesses and Dubai’s government has failed to comply with investigations and refused to share the CCTV witnesses' claim will prove beyond doubt that Lee was beaten to death. British tourist Lee Bradley Brown 'beaten to death' in Dubai police cell  | Daily Mail Online 
 Lee Bradley Brown, 39, was on holiday at a £1,000-a-night hotel in the Arab state when he was thrown into a filthy cell at the notoriously brutal Bur Dubai police station. “It is of paramount importance that Dubai authorities are held to account. Since the death of Lee Bradley Brown, countless others have been subjected to grave human rights violations and torture. British grandfather Albert Douglas  was beaten by police only one year ago, suffering serious head injuries and broken bones. FCDO failure in Albert Douglas case 
 Grandfather Albert Douglas has been held as an economic hostage in Dubai. He has been beaten, tortured and denied his medication, but the FCDO says “torture in itself is not grounds for a clemency application”. The UK claimed Albert was their “top diplomatic priority” but the frail grandfather who is currently living in prison with broken bones has seen no change in his situation. “Albert reported that he is currently detained with a celmate who alleges to have directly witnessed Lee’s death. In a harrowing phone call, Albert relays the conversation. “Such drastic and deadly abuse should not be tolerated by the UAE’s allies, by businesses and by celebrities. I sincerely pray that the outcome of this Inquest is determinative and that the UAE is held to account, initiates urgent reform and compensates the victim’s family. Nobody is safe until this happens”. After Albert Douglas was proven to have been beaten , the British government urged the UAE to address the allegations. Dubai arranged a medical panel to review his injuries but that was seemingly to appease the British government for a moment in time. The board confirmed Albert had been beaten and sustained injuries but did not act further . Albert’s son Wolfgang Douglas has desperately been campaigning for the British government to intervene, “We have called on everyone to get involved. My father should have been released the moment it was revealed that he had been beaten to the point of broken bones. The UAE has no right to hold him. He hasn’t committed any crime and we fear every day that he will be killed. As a family, we have so much sympathy for Lee. Every single detainee in Dubai’s jail wants justice for him”. Detained in Dubai: http://www.detainedindubai.org     Detained in Doha: https://www.detainedindoha.org             Radha Stirling: http://www.radhastirling.com              CLAN - Crypto Legal Advocacy Network - https://www.bitclan.org/     Due Process International: http://www.dueprocess.international              IPEX - Interpol & Extradition Reform & Defence Experts - https://www.ipexreform.com/     Podcast: http://www.gulfinjustice.news        Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/detainedindubai       YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/detainedindubai     mail: info@detainedindubai.org

Inquest into death of British national in Dubai custody set for October 31st

Inquest into death of British national in Dubai custody set for October 31st. Albert Douglas testimony from prison. Over a decade later,...

While Ryan Reynolds and various other celebrities take money from Dubai to promote this year’s expo, the more sinister side of the Emirates is being seriously exposed. No amount of celebrity or influencer endorsement can possibly make the past decade’s blood stains look like wine. “10 years ago, I was telephoned by a clearly distressed British national”, recalled Radha Stirling , CEO of Detained in Dubai ,  “he told me that a young British man had just been beaten to death by police. He was dead and in his last words, he desperately pleaded for help. The police did not help him, did not take him to the hospital. They left him there to die. “Although I had known of torture, beatings and abuse in prisons since founding the organisation in 2008, this was the first death in custody of a British national that I had come to know of. I wasn’t surprised though. It was obvious that with the police brutality reports we’d received over the years, eventually someone would die. I knew very well about Aboriginal deaths in custody from Australian police brutality. It was certainly foreseeable. 
 “Lee Bradley Brown visited Dubai as a tourist. He was arrested for swearing after he reportedly caught hotel staff trying to steal from his room and a few days later, he was dead but not due to an accident, a heart attack or drug abuse. He died at the hands of police who were supposed to protect people, not harm them. Briton 'beaten to death' in a Dubai police cell after being arrested for swearing  “There is no excuse for violence in police stations. Lee was not fighting the police and he was not violent towards them but all the same, they decided to beat him. Dubai’s police changed their stories multiple times, and even had the audacity to claim Lee threw himself violently against the cell wall and to the hard floor’s surface, but none of this was true. There were multiple witnesses who are testifying at the upcoming Inquest but Dubai insisted they would share the CCTV evidence with British authorities. The footage never materialised and the UAE withdrew the offer, despite pressure from the UK, media and courts. “2022 will be the first time the circumstances of Lee’s death will be truly heard and I hope that with my testimony, witness testimony, the coroner’s report, the UAE’s lack of cooperation and the endless subsequent reports of torture and abuse, that the Brown family will finally hear the truth of what happened to their beloved. New Inquiry into the death of Lee Bradley Brown, who died in custody just 6 days after his arrest  “The fact that the UAE has gone unpunished for this crime against a British national, has only emboldened them to continue their abuse against our citizens. We have a long list of Brits who have been forced to confess, tasered, beaten, tortured and abused by prison guards and police. The UK has not enforced human rights standards against the UAE but has rather, like Ryan Reynolds, opted to take the money. That money however, has come at the cost of ordinary citizens. “Billy Hood was arrested over CBD oil, forced to confess, tasered and beaten in police custody. Matthew Hedges  complained of his own torture when accused of being a British spy and grandfather Albert Douglas  requires multiple further surgeries after suffering dislocated and broken bones from being beaten by authorities.” 24 year old pro footballer sentenced to 25 years over CBD in Dubai In a telephone call shared with the Sun, Albert described the abuse he has suffered and witnessed  and that he is in prison with one of the witnesses of Lee’s murder. What has changed since Lee’s death? Stirling explains, “There has been overwhelming evidence and testimony of perpetual human rights abuses within the UAE, so perpetual that even Dubai’s own royalty have broadcast their personal shocking experiences. The UAE has been the subject of ongoing scrutiny, multiple United Nations investigations, the English and Scottish courts have refused to extradite citizens based on the ‘real risk of torture, human rights abuses, unfair trials and discrimination’, the English courts ruled noted that Sheikh Shamsa and Latifa had been kidnapped, the European Parliament has boycotted Dubai’s expo  and political influencers like Lady Whitaker have called for sanctions . Brit jailed in Dubai hospitalised for dislocated shoulder 'after prison beating'  “What we have achieved since Lee’s death is substantial, finally inspiring MP’s to debate whether the FCDO is doing enough to protect citizens from abuse in the UAE. These accomplishments in themselves, should pressure change in the UAE and this time, it needs to be for real. No more glossy cover ups, no whitewashing, no fake assurances. The FCO is broken “The UAE’s Western allies need to ensure their partner respects and preserves our fundamental human rights”. The Coroner’s Inquest into Lee Bradley Brown’s death is scheduled to take place in January 2022. Join our Telegram group  for instant press releases, breaking news and alerts: Look at our Lee Bradley Brown section on  Detained in Dubai : Detained in Dubai : http://www.detainedindubai.org Radha Stirling : http:///www.radhastirling.com Due Process International  http://www.dueprocess.international Podcast : http://www.gulfinjustice.news Spotify : https://open.spotify.com/show/6KH20nwiZKSKEST4EyMHej Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/detainedindubai Instagram : http://www.instagram.com/detainedindubai2008 YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/detainedindubai Email: info@detainedindubai.org

Dubai’s Deadly Cops: Lee Bradley Brown Inquest 2022

While Ryan Reynolds and various other celebrities take money from Dubai to promote this year’s expo, the more sinister side of the...

Lee Bradley Brown Inquest jury verdict - Death in Dubai Police Custody After a 5 day Inquest into the death of Lee Bradley Brown at Bur Dubai Police Station, a jury has found that Lee most likely died from a combination of beatings, lack of food and water and lack of access to medical care. The jury also noted the additional factors of a lack of access to consular services, lack of clothing and Dubai police authorities neglect. The Coroner will produce a report to the FCDO entitled Preventing Future Deaths. The FCDO has been heavily criticised by current and former inmates for their lack of care and diligence. Since Lee’s death, dozens have reported violence, beatings and torture by UAE authorities. Grandfather Albert Douglas was severely beaten and suffered broken bones and significant injuries. “It is imperative that we can be assured of our safety when visiting allied countries”, said Radha Stirling, founder of Detained in Dubai and a witness in the Inquest. LEE BRADLEY BROWN| Detained in Dubai 
 Lee Bradley Brown died in custody due to Dubai police brutality. 2021: Radha Stirling is giving evidence in new Inquest into his death. Stirling raised the fact that the FCDO’s travel advice conflicts with concerns from British courts. “I explained to the Coroners Court that British courts decline extradition requests on the basis of the ‘real risk of unfair trials, discrimination, human rights abuses and torture’. If the British courts believe citizens are at risk of human rights abuses and torture, the FCDO’s travel advice should reflect exactly that”. Lee Bradley Brown died in 2011 and it has taken over a decade for his family to finally succeed in proving that he died as a direct result of and under the care of Dubai authorities. Several witnesses affirmed he was brutally killed by authorities at Bur Dubai police station. Authorities in Dubai promised to share the CCTV footage to “prove their innocence”, but this statement was later retracted and authorities refused to share the video with British officials. “We are pleased to finally have a form of conclusion in the death of Lee Bradley Brown but without the cooperation of the Dubai police, the findings leave many questions unanswered. The UAE authorities do not appear to have learned any lessons. There have been no consequences for the Emirates and we continue to receive reports of abuse, violence and torture”, Stirling said in a statement. “Dubai authorities should release Albert Douglas, a British grandfather who has suffered horrific injuries from being beaten by prison guards. The trauma he has endured is unimaginable and especially at his age and frailty. Albert suffers from a heart condition and the head injuries sustained from his beatings require ongoing treatment. Given his abuse, Albert should be released and reunited with his family who worry every day that he will end up like Lee Bradley Brown”. HOME | Albert Douglas 
 Albert Douglas, wrongfully detained in Duabi and subject to grave human rights abuses within the UAE prison system. #FreeAlbert is a campaign solely dedicated to getting Albert home and ending torture in the Emirates. Detained in Dubai: http://www.detainedindubai.org     Detained in Doha: https://www.detainedindoha.org             Radha Stirling: http://www.radhastirling.com              CLAN - Crypto Legal Advocacy Network - https://www.bitclan.org/     Due Process International: http://www.dueprocess.international              IPEX - Interpol & Extradition Reform & Defence Experts - https://www.ipexreform.com/     Podcast: http://www.gulfinjustice.news        Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/detainedindubai       YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/detainedindubai     mail: info@detainedindubai.org

Lee Bradley Brown jury verdict

Lee Bradley Brown Inquest jury verdict - Death in Dubai Police Custody After a 5 day Inquest into the death of Lee Bradley Brown at Bur...

“ I have made peace with the fact that I got scammed out of all my money; but what am I supposed to do now? ” So says one South African flight attendant who purchased an apartment in Dubai back in 2006, expressing what hundreds of property investors in the UAE have experienced. His apartment in the Lagoon development project was never built, yet he is now being hounded for defaulting on payments for the non-existent property. “ This is an atrociously common situation ,” says Radha Stirling , founder and CEO of Due Process International  and Detained in Dubai , “ This client should have been living in his promised luxury apartment for the last 14 years – when it was supposed to be completed; instead, he is being pursued by Mashreq Bank for falling behind on payments for a home that never was, and never will be built. The developers, in this case Schon Property, have already received their millions from the bank, but individual buyers are expected to pay that back, even though the Lagoon apartments project, for all intents and purposes, has been scrapped. It does not take two decades to build an apartment complex in Dubai. “We have clients who have lost their jobs after signing contracts with Schon Properties, struggling to keep up payments using their credit cards, taking out loans, sinking themselves into debt; all in the hopes of eventually owning valuable properties in the heart of Dubai, only to finally realise that they have been utterly defrauded. Clients make payments on these imaginary properties for years under the constant brow-beating by banks like Mashreq threatening that they will be criminally charged and reported to Interpol if they so much as fall behind on their instalments – never mind that the properties turn out to be phantasms .” Stirling says that a typical contract requires investors to pay 50% of the property’s total cost in quarterly payments over 2 years, with the remainder being divided over monthly instalments which should, in theory, begin when the owner has already taken possession of the property. However, delays and cancellations of developments occur frequently in the UAE, but buyers remain accountable for fulfilling their side of the contract. “ The banks do not care if the homes are ever built ,” she explains, “ And unfortunately, neither do the developers, once they have been paid. When property developers defraud their customers, when projects stall or are suspended, the government will seize the land, and sometimes the assets of the real estate company if they can; but individual buyers are still expected to keep paying anyway. In other words, Dubai and UAE banks directly profit from property scams, and they are making no serious efforts to stop them .” Stirling estimates that only roughly a quarter of property developments initiated in Dubai are ever completed, but all of them attract buyers. “ On any given day in the UAE ,” she says, “ tens of millions of dollars change hands in property deals; perhaps 75% of those deals will prove fraudulent within the next 5 years, leaving hundreds if not thousands of hopeful homebuyers not only bankrupt but slapped with criminal cases and listed on Interpol as fugitives; while the actual property scammers are free to continue bilking investors with no consequences.” Even if developments are completed, Stirling explains, they seldom live up to the promises made at their initial launch. “ Most people buy these properties as investments ,” she says, “ They have the intention of renting them out; but once the developments are completed and they discover that many of the amenities that were listed in the promotional material have been scrapped or downgraded, they have to face the reality that their property is not the draw for tenants they thought it would be, and they end up just being stuck with an unaffordable financial burden. They can neither rent it out nor sell it, and they still have to keep up the monthly payments  while also paying the rent or mortgage on the home where they actually live.” Dubai’s unreal estate market 
 Most people probably believe that Dubai is home to a vibrant and luxurious property market. However, those more familiar with the UAE city-state know that this apparent real estate oasis in the desert can become investment quicksand the moment you sign the dotted line... Stirling has coined the term “unreal estate market” to describe the property sector in the UAE, “ We have simply had too many clients whose investing experience in Dubai has turned into a financial catastrophe ,” she explains, “ Whether the developer is state-owned or private, they have learned that they can make just as much money by not completing a project as by completing it because they can reliably pass all accountability on to individual homebuyers and depend on the relentless harassment of UAE banks to force them to pay, regardless of whether or not they ever stack one brick on top of another. If the property sector in Dubai actually operated as advertised, of course it would be a brilliant place to invest; unfortunately, like so much of the other hype about the UAE, the advertising is almost completely false .” Dubai Property Scams - Class Actions 
 UAE Property Developer Scams - La Hoya Bay - Ras Al Khaimah 
 How to end your UAE debt nightmare  Detained in Dubai: http://www.detainedindubai.org     Detained in Doha: https://www.detainedindoha.org             Radha Stirling: http://www.radhastirling.com              CLAN - Crypto Legal Advocacy Network - https://www.bitclan.org/     Due Process International: http://www.dueprocess.international              IPEX - Interpol & Extradition Reform & Defence Experts - https://www.ipexreform.com/     Podcast: http://www.gulfinjustice.news        Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/detainedindubai       YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/detainedindubai     mail: info@detainedindubai.org

The false promise of Dubai’s property sector

“I have made peace with the fact that I got scammed out of all my money; but what am I supposed to do now?” So says one South African...

Dubai police not prosecuting cannabis in bloodstream cases After the widely published case of Peter Clark, an American who faced prison over cannabis in his bloodstream (legally smoked in Las Vegas), Dubai police may have relaxed enforcement. Man arrested in Dubai for cannabis possession - in his blood! - Green Prophet Detained in Dubai  was founded in 2008 and has helped thousands of people who have fallen foul of Dubai’s often confusing laws in relation to prohibited substances. After securing Peter Clark’s freedom earlier this year, the organisation was contacted by another US citizen who received a more favourable treatment by Dubai police. “A young American man tested positive for possession of drugs (in his blood) at Dubai’s international airport”, reports founder Radha Stirling .  “He had smoked Cannabis in the last thirty days in America but residue remained in his bloodstream. Unlike Peter Clark who faced conviction and jail time, Dubai police permitted him to enter and complete his short holiday but advised he would not be able to return in the future. “Under the law, possession of hashish can warrant a substantial fine and deportation and/or a lengthy prison sentence. Although newly relaxed guidelines appear to have reduced sentencing to 1 year, visitors should not feel comfortable that that’s what they will get”, explains Stirling. “The arbitrary enforcement of the law as we can see in the distinction between Clark’s case and the second American is extremely confusing to travel advice bureaus and travellers alike. Stirling's first case in 2008 involved a British national who was detained over alleged specs of marijuana dust in his suitcase. He was released following her campaign to free him. “One month we have someone facing imprisonment and the next, we have someone in exactly the same situation permitted to continue their holiday but told not to return. If indeed our highlighting of Peter Clark’s case led to a new directive towards more relaxed police enforcement, why not go a step further and change the law itself? Marijuana residue remains in the system for potentially two months and many visitors to Dubai will partake in its consumption where it is legal abroad. It makes no sense to jail people for conduct outside of their borders but Dubai has a history of exporting laws abroad by convicting people for social media posts made outside of the UAE. “The UAE has made a number of changes over the years as a direct result of our 15 years of our lobbying. “For years, foreigners were jailed for cohabiting or sharing a hotel room with their partner. Eventually, sex outside marriage was legalised. In the meantime, visitors should refrain from breaking the strict letter of the law assuming that police will turn a blind eye. It’s exactly this contradiction that has lured tourists into a false sense of security that they won’t get in trouble. Dubai Revises Antiquated Drug Laws “I fully expect that we will see more cases like that of Peter Clark. The thing about arbitrary enforcement is that it is arbitrary and we can not rely on it. “Another trending issue is the widespread arrest of foreigners who have been in the vicinity of another individual who may be wanted by the police. This could be at a club, a party or someone’s home. If police raid the venue, they cast a wide net and will hold innocent bystanders for weeks or months without evidence of any wrongdoing. Bystanders can be charged and even convicted without evidence of drug related crimes that would see them with life sentences. Billy Hood and Andy Neal are prime examples of this kind of practice. British soldier is CLEARED after spending a year in UAE prisons on false drugs charges “Although we are definitely seeing Dubai police under instructions to ‘go easy’ on tourists who test positive for drugs on arrival, we can not rely on this. We continue to see unfair detentions and legal abuse. Once in the prison system, inmates are at serious risk of human rights violations and torture.” Dubai: Arrested for drugs at airport. What can get you into trouble? Detained in Dubai: http://www.detainedindubai.org     Detained in Doha: https://www.detainedindoha.org             Radha Stirling: http://www.radhastirling.com              CLAN - Crypto Legal Advocacy Network - https://www.bitclan.org/     Due Process International: http://www.dueprocess.international              IPEX - Interpol & Extradition Reform & Defence Experts - https://www.ipexreform.com/     Podcast: http://www.gulfinjustice.news        Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/detainedindubai       YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/detainedindubai     mail: info@detainedindubai.org

Dubai police not prosecuting cannabis in bloodstream

Dubai police not prosecuting cannabis in bloodstream cases After the widely published case of Peter Clark, an American who faced prison...

FEMALE and LGBT+ England fans risk serious consequences at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar if they report being the victim of a sex attack, committing ‘open displays of affection’ or are seen as being drunk in public, experts have warned. An inevitable mix of rowdy crowds in packed stadiums and excessive alcohol consumption increase the statistics for sexual assault. But thousands of women and LGBT fans expected to travel to the Gulf State in November have been warned they face prosecution if they report such offences. Qatar’s draconian Islamic laws outlaw any sexual contact between unmarried couples making it an offence even if the victim has not consented to such acts. In a country internationally renowned for its catalogue of human rights abuses, it’s no surprise that women are treated less equally than men and are routinely abused, arbitrarily imprisoned and even flogged for minor infractions and perceived “offences”. This remains a risk for female visitors travelling to Doha for the World Cup in November. Reports show that for example, around 100 expat women are arrested every year and jailed in Qatar for giving birth to a baby out of wedlock. This is commonly the case for many third country nationals who are often raped and abused by their male Qatari sponsors, frequently resulting in pregnancy. Extra-marital sex and adultery are illegal under Qatari law and giving birth to an illegitimate baby usually results in a 12-month jail sentence. Many unmarried women who find themselves in such a predicament leave the country to avoid prosecution, some stay hoping that they will not get in trouble with the authorities. Others are unable to leave because their sponsor will not give them an exit permit. In such instances, a Qatari male’s word carries more legal weight than that of a woman meaning that there is little or no justice for ‘foreign’ female victims of such sexual abuse. Moreover, the country’s discriminatory male guardianship system denies women the right to make many key decisions about their lives. For women in Qatar, lockdown is nothing new 
 Women’s rights in Qatar not enshrined in law. Male Guardianship rules force women to flee oppression. In 2016, a Dutch woman, 22, who alleged she was brutally raped after being drugged in a nightclub in Doha was convicted of having sex out of wedlock by a Qatari court. She was fined and given a one-year suspended sentence under the strict “Zina” laws, banning sex and pregnancy outside of marriage. The woman, who visited Doha as a tourist, was eventually ordered to be deported to the Netherlands. The woman said she was drugged during a party at a nightclub in a Doha hotel and woke up in an unknown apartment when she realised she had been sexually assaulted. She reported the incident to Qatari police and was subsequently arrested on charges of committing illicit sex acts. The one-year suspended sentence was described as “lenient” , according to a statement released by court officials. “Had she been a Muslim woman, she would have received at least five years in jail. No one can get out of such charges here in Qatar,”  they said. Rape victims have often been prosecuted after male suspects claimed that the sex was consensual - and have been handed sentences ranging from seven years jail, to flogging with a whip or stick. Qatar was forced to respond to outrage at the treatment of female victims onboard a flight from Doha to Sydney  where authorities were accused of sexual assault after forcing female passengers to strip. Australian women sue Qatar Airways over forced examinations at Doha airport | Australia news | The Guardian Visitors are also warned about drinking alcohol - especially in public areas. While drinking alcohol at public sporting events is socially acceptable in most western countries, drinking alcohol during the games in Qatar, a “Tier-2” alcohol consumption Muslim country, (meaning ‘Dry’ for Muslims, but non-Muslims may purchase alcoholic beverages in a limited number of establishments), sets the stage for significantly increased risks. Detained in Doha  founder, Radha Stirling  cautions that rules on alcohol are very confusing for most Western visitors in the Gulf, “ Most people think that if they follow the rules with regards to purchasing and consuming alcohol, they will be fine. But the most dangerous aspect of the law has to do with intoxication. It is not allowed to be publicly intoxicated in Qatar, and Qatar has no legally prescribed blood-alcohol level to define drunkenness. In terms of the law, anyone who drinks a single beer before or after a match, will be vulnerable to arrest and prosecution the moment they leave the venue .” Footie fans could walk into a booze law trap during the World Cup in Qatar, legal expert warns | The Sun Qatar’s World Cup chief, Nasser Al Khater, said Thursday that “There will be special ‘sobering-up zones’ at the tournament for drunk fans” but Stirling says, “With Qatar portraying tolerance during the event, visitors will be lured into a false sense of security”. Qatar has also been under criticism for its anti-LGBT+ laws. The country doesn’t recognise same-sex partnerships and they are deemed illegal. However, FIFA is confident that persons identifying as LGBT+ will not face any consequences and Qatar’s supreme committee, which oversees the whole World Cup, denies local laws on such would be an issue in this case. Stirling confirmed “Members of the LGBT community have already been denied rooms at hotels and care should be taken to hide their sexual orientation. Homosexuality is illegal and the penalties can be severe across the entire Middle East. “Care should be taken to delete any explicit photographs or videos before travel as these can also lead to arrest if discovered”. Peter Tatchell called on FIFA  to cancel the World Cup in Qatar when in 2013 GCC member countries announced new plans to “detect” and ban gay people from entering their countries. Meanwhile, David Beckham, the face of Qatar22, blocked an LGBT campaigner from social media. David Beckham branded a 'sportswasher' as Scots man left languishing in Iraqi jail  - Scottish Daily Express Ultimately, Qatar is set to receive thousands of diverse foreign visitors when it hosts the 2022 football World Cup in November. UK dad's arrest in Iraq 'sends warning to World Cup fans in Qatar’  - Hull Live Detained in Dubai: http://www.detainedindubai.org     Detained in Doha: https://www.detainedindoha.org             Radha Stirling: http://www.radhastirling.com              CLAN - Crypto Legal Advocacy Network - https://www.bitclan.org/     Due Process International: http://www.dueprocess.international              IPEX - Interpol & Extradition Reform & Defence Experts - https://www.ipexreform.com/     Podcast: http://www.gulfinjustice.news        Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/detainedindubai       YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/detainedindubai     mail: info@detainedindubai.org

FIFA World Cup Travel Warning: Women & LGBT+ risk jail or flogging

FEMALE and LGBT+ England fans risk serious consequences at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar if they report being the victim of a sex attack,...

Abusive Interpol Red Notice Deleted by Interpol and extradition crisis consultant, Radha Stirling When a Jordanian business owner was wrongfully listed on Interpol by some of the most powerful men in Saudi Arabia, after some 5 years battling to clear his name, he finally turned to Radha Stirling for help. This week, the Red Notice against him was deleted. Stirling is the founder of human rights advocacy group Due Process International  and IPEX Reform , an Interpol and extradition reform campaign lobbying for greater transparency and accountability for the international policing organisation. Stirling has become the leading voice against what she terms ‘Interpol abuse’, and has successfully challenged countless wrongful Red Notices over the course of her career. “ Our client was hired by Prince Turki bin Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz of Saudi Arabia to build a luxurious oasis two hours outside Riyadh where the prince was going to host a secretive meeting for the so-called ‘Rare 10’ group of billionaires ”, Stirling explains, “ From the outset my client was forced to deal with numerous middlemen as the prince tried to maintain a distance from the project, which it turns out, was part of an attempt to recruit support for his own bid to contest the throne. Payments were few and far between, and construction was therefore beset with problems. My client paid out of pocket for operating expenses and supplies throughout a considerable portion of the project, only to ultimately be refused reimbursement. To add insult to injury, the prince’s intermediaries accused my client of owing them money and filed a fabricated case against him in the UAE where his company was based. All of this, apparently, was because Prince Turki wanted to disown the project, and wanted to prevent my client from pursuing his rights in Saudi Arabian courts for fear that the ‘Rare 10’ meeting would be exposed. As a result of the UAE case and the subsequent Interpol Red Notice, my client lost his company and had to leave the region where he had spent years building his business and his reputation, and he suffered enormous financial losses . Disgraced Saudi Prince Convened Meeting of Billionaires Prior to His Arrest “Everyone involved in defrauding my client and wrongfully listing him on Interpol are in jail now for corruption in Saudi Arabia, and we are very relieved that his Red Notice nightmare is finally over. However, his case highlights once again the urgent need for Interpol reform; his name should never have been listed in the first place, but Interpol conducts no investigation into Red Notice requests, even when they are coming from countries with a long history of human rights violations, an absence of legal due process, and habitual abuse of the Interpol system. Removing a name from the database is a long, slow process that requires considerable expertise, while adding a name can be done in a keystroke. Authoritarian regimes, like those in the Gulf, are able to use Interpol to essentially assert universal jurisdiction, basically extending their own reach beyond their borders to interfere with foreign citizens. Countries where there is no due process or judicial integrity are able to pursue people abroad and to punish them with Red Notice listings that upend their lives and freedom for years.” Saudi Prince uses Interpol to prevent damaging witness testimony  Stirling warns that individuals often do not learn of their listing on Interpol until it is too late, “ Countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE frequently convict people in absentia, and report them to Interpol without their knowledge ,” she says, “ Someone may not know they even have a criminal case against them in these countries until one day they get arrested at an airport .” Her organisation recently launched an Interpol prevention service whereby clients can pre-empt potential Red Notices before they are issued, Stirling explains, “ We also provide police checks to discover any possible complaints that may be registered against a client, which are likely to escalate to Interpol if unresolved. It is simply too easy for states to have names listed on Interpol, and it is considerably more difficult to challenge a listing once it has been made; so, if we can intervene before that happens, clients can be spared the destructive impact of an abusive Red Notice .” Home | IPEX Reform  
 Detained in Dubai: http://www.detainedindubai.org     Detained in Doha: https://www.detainedindoha.org             Radha Stirling: http://www.radhastirling.com              CLAN - Crypto Legal Advocacy Network - https://www.bitclan.org/     Due Process International: http://www.dueprocess.international              IPEX - Interpol & Extradition Reform & Defence Experts - https://www.ipexreform.com/     Podcast: http://www.gulfinjustice.news        Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/detainedindubai       YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/detainedindubai     mail: info@detainedindubai.org

Abusive Saudi initiated UAE Interpol Red Notice Deleted by Radha Stirling

Abusive Interpol Red Notice Deleted by Interpol and extradition crisis consultant, Radha Stirling When a Jordanian business owner was...

No response from Cleverly leaves Glendinning family arranging protest at Scottish parliament this week Scottish construction engineer Brian Glendinning has been detained in Iraq for almost two months because of a small Qatar National Bank (QNB) debt. Despite Brian repaying the loan and being in contact with the bank, QNB decided they had every right to report him to Interpol. Interpol accepted the Notice, placing ‘trust’ in member states to act responsibly. “Interpol will delete the Notice once I have appealed but the process takes months and does not help Brian in his current predicament. QNB should never have been able to list Brian in the first place but the damage is done”, said Interpol & extradition crisis consultant Radha Stirling , founder of IPEX Reform . “It is appalling that a British citizen has been detained in Iraq and our Scottish MP, Mr Douglas Chapman has received no response to his communications to James Cleverly , our Foreign Minister. Cleverly should be using every diplomatic effort available with Qatari and Iraqi counterparts to end this circus, but he has not even responded to basic communication. It is no wonder that the Glendinnings and supporting Scottish MP’s are encouraging a demonstration in front of Parliament calling for action. They have noted that other Scots detained abroad have received no help either ( Conor Howard , Billy Barclay , Jamie Harron )”. Brian’s wife Kimberly has called for Nicola Sturgeon to pressure British diplomats to act. “When Liz Truss was Foreign Secretary, she couldn’t remember the names of British citizens detained abroad who had come to her asking to be saved from torture ( Albert Douglas ) and it’s important James Clevery, MP understands his role is to support British nationals, including Scots, who are unfairly facing legal or physical abuse abroad. “I have reached out to contacts at the bank and provided them with authorisation to represent Brian. We are preparing correspondence to QNB’s London investment arm who we hope will do everything they can to avoid being publicly hauled through the British justice system and made accountable for the consequences of using Interpol as a debt enforcement agent”. Detained in Dubai: http://www.detainedindubai.org     Detained in Doha: https://www.detainedindoha.org             Radha Stirling: http://www.radhastirling.com              CLAN - Crypto Legal Advocacy Network - https://www.bitclan.org/     Due Process International: http://www.dueprocess.international              IPEX - Interpol & Extradition Reform & Defence Experts - https://www.ipexreform.com/     Podcast: http://www.gulfinjustice.news        Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/detainedindubai       YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/detainedindubai     mail: info@detainedindubai.org

No response from Cleverly leaves Glendinning family arranging protest at Scottish parliament

No response from Cleverly leaves Glendinning family arranging protest at Scottish parliament this week Scottish construction engineer...

Scottish construction engineer Brian Glendinning’s detention has been extended for another week by the courts. “The punishment is the process”, says extradition crisis consultant Radha Stirling. “Qatar regularly has foreigners detained abroad over bank debts even though they know they will lose an extradition request in court”. Brian’s Iraq based lawyer, Tahseen Alchaabawi, issued a statement saying “The case of the British citizen, Brian, is a civil case, and according to Iraqi law, there is no criminal element. But there is a warning arrest from Interpol against Brian from Qatar and unfortunately, the Qatari authorities are acting with hostility. They are deliberately not sending the case file to the Iraqi court (they do that on purpose )in order for Brian to remain in prison for a long time”. Stirling added “delaying the required documentation is a tactic employed to slow down the decision making process in Iraq. If they sent the file, Iraq would immediately see that it is a civil case and lacks dual criminality. Brian would be freed. Instead, he is being held in horrendous detention conditions at the order of Qatar National Bank”. This is not the first time. A Czech court ruled that the detention of Alan Stevenson was a violation of human rights. Alan, who worked in IT at HSBC from the mid to late 2000s, was held in the country for 4½ months over an alleged credit card debt in Qatar. Radha Stirling said he was a victim of “abuse” of international police agency Interpol's arrest-warrant system over a debt with the Qatar National Bank he insisted he had not incurred. She added that “no evidence was produced or provided to the Czech courts”  to back up an extradition request from Qatar. Iraq must be mindful that Qatar is a repeat abuser of the extradition process. Ms Stirling said: “ Alan Stevenson's case should be a watershed moment for Interpol reform and human rights compliance. “Alan's case is emblematic of what has been happening with ever greater frequency from the Gulf states. Stevenson detention ‘an abuse of his rights’  - The Royal Gazette “Interpol has been hijacked by authoritarian regimes around the world who abuse the red notice system to persecute political opponents, dissidents, independent journalists, and private individuals over financial disputes.” British national Steven Williams was held in Mallorca over a Qatar bank debt. “I’ve been paying the debt so I don’t understand how it’s risen to £92,000 in such a short space of time – they’re adding interest and fees on and it’s just terrifying they can get away with it. Steven even offered to pay a large chunk of money but they rejected it then had him arrested to extort a larger sum than he actually owed”. Stirling commented “The toll on Steven was high. He is afraid to travel and we can only imagine how Brian is going to feel if he is lucky enough to be released. His family is absolutely distraught over his detention and the conditions at the facility. They are worried for his health, his mental health and his life”. Brit may face decades in jail in Qatar after he was arrested on holiday in Spain over debt that's tripled to £92,000 in two years Brian and his family have urged British nationals to stop helping Qatar to promote itself. “The world cup is coming up, don’t promote it. Don’t go there”, Brian warned. The family has called on sportswasher David Beckham to use his influence to help the cause. “How can people support a country that so blatantly violates international principles of human rights?” What is an Interpol Red Notice? Stirling explains. An Interpol Red Notice is an alert sent to member states that notifies them that a particular country has an interest in arrest with a view to extradition. When someone is arrested, a notification is sent to Interpol who shares the information with the requesting state, in this instance Qatar. Qatar will then advise whether they intend to seek extradition. If so, they will be required to send documentation to the arresting country to initiate extradition proceedings. Most modern countries have a limit of 45 days for this to happen. If the documentation is not sent, the individual will be released but the Red Notice will not be deleted at this point and so they could be re-arrested in the future. The Trial. If a case proceeds to a trial, a judge will determine whether there is sufficient evidence of criminality to proceed. If they determine that the request is of a civil nature, the individual should be released. If not, the process will continue to a full trial and both sides will be required to submit arguments. This process can take months to years and bail is unlikely. How are banks able to use Interpol for debt collection? Interpol has no checks and balances to ensure the data they are receiving from a member state falls within their constitution. They rely on the local National Crime Bureau (NCB) to be responsible in their reporting. Unfortunately, this ‘trust’ leads to consistent abuse. Journalists can be reported as terrorists, debtors as fraudsters and so on. Member states are not penalised for misuse and there is no compensation scheme for victims. Extradition ‘Quid Pro Quo’ abuse. The extradition of ‘wanted persons’ has been used for political advancement by allied countries. For example, the UAE extradited a number of high profile ‘fugitives’ to India after India’s cooperation in the abduction of Sheikha Latifa Al Maktoum. It is certainly concerning that Iraq has strong ties to Qatar including commercial and investment incentives. This puts Brian at risk of extrajudicial extradition or lengthy and unfair detention. What can the British government do? The FCDO and foreign diplomats could quite easily pick up the phone to their Qatari counterparts and urge them to withdraw the extradition request and employ standard debt collection practices such as seeking a CCJ. The case is clearly detrimental to Qatar’s reputation while they are promoting the country as a sound and safe place for foreign investment and tourism. We have approached the British Ambassador, John Wilks and asked him to approach his counterparts and Qatar National Bank directly. Douglas Chapman, MP has approached the Qatari Ambassador to Britain and we hope that he takes the unfair detention of a British national seriously. Ultimately, James Cleverly as the new Foreign Secretary needs to step in and show that British nationals matter. It is his job. How long could this go on? Without intervention, Brian could be detained for months if not years. Robert Urwin spent over a year in Ukraine before ultimately being released. This is why it is so important for the British government to apply diplomatic pressure. Robert Urwin returns home from Ukraine over bounced cheque  - BBC News If extradited, Brian could spend two years (or more) in a Qatar prison and then held hostage on a travel ban indefinitely. Travelling when you have a UAE or Qatar debt 
 Due Process Newsroom Detained in Dubai: http://www.detainedindubai.org     Detained in Doha: https://www.detainedindoha.org             Radha Stirling: http://www.radhastirling.com              CLAN - Crypto Legal Advocacy Network - https://www.bitclan.org/     Due Process International: http://www.dueprocess.international              IPEX - Interpol & Extradition Reform & Defence Experts - https://www.ipexreform.com/     Podcast: http://www.gulfinjustice.news        Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/detainedindubai       YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/detainedindubai     mail: info@detainedindubai.org

“There is no case” says Brian Glendinning’s Iraqi lawyer on Qatar Interpol warrant

Scottish construction engineer Brian Glendinning’s detention has been extended for another week by the courts. “The punishment is the...

Family distraught after call from Baghdad jail: Brian Glendinning “He’s not well. He has no energy. I really think he’s given up. The conditions are terrible. We’re trying to get paracetamol for him and a visitation by the Embassy”, Brian’s wife Kimberly tells us. Brian’s family endured a painful call from the Baghdad detention facility where he has been detained for over a month. “It’s disheartening when you hear stories from others who have been jailed for over a year before eventually being exonerated and released. Brian’s in an extreme situation, it’s unimaginable and it could happen to anyone”. John Glendinning has been relentless in his campaigning. “He doesn’t stop”, said Radha Stirling , the extradition crisis consultant who has been helping the family. “John is constantly messaging me asking what more he can do. It’s a desperate situation and they are well aware that they could lose their beloved family member. No family should have to go through this because a bank in the Middle East has decided to exploit their membership with Interpol. “Anyone who takes out a credit card, bank loan or mortgage with a bank in the Middle East is at significant risk of being listed as a fugitive on the Interpol Red Notice database”. Brian’s MP has written to Qatar’s Ambassador to the UK to step in and help.  “If the Ambassador picked up the phone and requested the extradition request be withdrawn, Brian would be promptly released”, explains Stirling. “It’s not good for trade, investment, the World Cup or tourism, to be tormenting British nationals like this. It’s time to make these practices a thing of the past”. British engineer’s fight against Qatar extradition ‘a warning to World Cup fans’ | Qatar  | The Guardian Douglas Chapman, MP for Dunfermline & West Fife, said: “I’m aware of the case involving Brian which has been raised with me as his MP. We have been in touch with both the family here and the Foreign Office in London and Baghdad. “Through the efforts of Brian’s family, their legal people on the ground in Iraq and with the support of the Foreign Office and Radha Stirling [a campaigner on unjust detentions], we are trying to secure Mr Glendinning’s release and his safe return home to Scotland. “With the World Cup due to start soon in Qatar this is not the time for the event’s hosts to be in the news for all the wrong reasons and I hope, in this case, good sense can prevail.” Family of Scottish dad detained in Qatar turn to David Beckham in desperate plea  - Edinburgh Live Consular staff have been informed of Brian’s state and have requested a visitation. However, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly was called on to intervene at a diplomatic level but has so far failed to respond. Stirling added “Other countries like Canada, Malaysia and the US have secured the release of their citizens through diplomacy and Britain needs to do the same. The Interpol Red Notice should never have been published in the first place and Brian should never have been arrested in Iraq. The UK government has the ability to put an end to Brian’s detention right now. The only question is whether they are willing”. Detained in Dubai: http://www.detainedindubai.org     Detained in Doha: https://www.detainedindoha.org             Radha Stirling: http://www.radhastirling.com              CLAN - Crypto Legal Advocacy Network - https://www.bitclan.org/     Due Process International: http://www.dueprocess.international              IPEX - Interpol & Extradition Reform & Defence Experts - https://www.ipexreform.com/     Podcast: http://www.gulfinjustice.news        Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/detainedindubai       YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/detainedindubai     mail: info@detainedindubai.org

Family distraught after call from Baghdad jail: Brian Glendinning

Family distraught after call from Baghdad jail: Brian Glendinning “He’s not well. He has no energy. I really think he’s given up. The...

Oil & Rights: Truss policies follow familiar model. Although the UK has been on a political rollercoaster the past few years, is it really that unusual? If it’s not Brexit, it’s Covid. If it’s not Afghanistan, it’s Ukraine. There always has and always will be ‘something’ going on. The media depends on it and if it’s not there, it will be manufactured. The former foreign secretary has settled into her new role as prime minister and there is already a push to abandon the European human rights court. Human rights lawyers and groups are seriously concerned over the move, while others have pointed out that Britain has been a leading promoter of human rights and freedoms. One less arbiter is one less appeal venue. And, can we really say the UK has been a ‘leading promoter’ of human rights? We like to believe it, our diplomats like to preach it, but the proof is in the pudding. Time and time again, politicians and diplomats will confirm their support for the human rights of British citizens detained abroad and trumpet their significant influence over allied nations, but what are the tangible results? Every now and then we see a momentary hero like Jeremy Hunt swoop in to save a citizen but would Mr Hunt have threatened sanctions if Matthew Hedges  had been arrested for something other than espionage? We certainly know Liz Truss has not. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliff  spoke of her disappointment over Britain’s diplomatic impotence in her case and after helping in more than fifteen thousand cases myself, I don’t recall a single citizen who has returned to praise the UK government’s efforts. “Liz Truss UNFIT for PM” - Brits in Gulf prisons say When Truss was pitching for prime minister, she was put on the spot and asked to cite a single Gulf human rights case she had helped in. Truss was unable to do so but ‘assured’ us she had but simply couldn’t remember the names. Tortured grandfather Albert Douglas  was one of British citizens Truss had been lobbied to help. Beaten by prison guards resulting in multiple fractures, surely Truss would remember such a horrific case of abuse by our closest Middle Eastern allies, the United Arab Emirates? Felicity Buchan, MP  raised the case to Truss on multiple occasions but Truss didn’t remember, and he remains wrongfully detained in prison, suffering from serious injuries. It’s not just Albert of course, but his case highlights serious and concerning human rights violations by authorities against a British citizen. FCDO Responsibilities: Are Conflicting Goals Diminishing Efficacy? In his autobiography, Jared Kusner described Trump’s approach to Khashoggi’s execution. They had no hard evidence that MBS was directly involved and overall, he saw MBS updating laws that would improve women’s rights and liberties in Saudi so they look at the ‘overall picture’ but the truth is that Gulf nations are a strategic necessity for the West. FCDO failure in Albert Douglas case I will not say that we are turning a blind eye to human rights abuses in the Middle East because of our increased desperation for energy cooperation; that would be to say this attitude is new. The behaviour is exactly the same post Russia-Ukraine as it was when I conversed with our Middle Eastern consular representative over a decade ago. The only thing that’s changed is the PR spin and Russia is the new excuse. The British government should not be so cavalier to think they get a ‘free pass’ on human rights issues because the public want gas. They are not mutually exclusive. The FCO is broken Britain does not do well looking desperate. When a country won’t stand up for their citizens, even where there is police brutality involved, they are going to lose in negotiations. How can countries like Qatar, Saudi or the UAE take the UK seriously when they appear too frightened to stand up for their citizens? This lack of courage will reflect in all the deals we do across the board. James Cleverly - British prisoners & human rights victims hold hope for new Foreign Minister There is a new prime minister with an opportunity to save British lives, a new but experienced foreign minister, James Cleverly and it is time they are called on to act in the best interests of Brits. Albert Douglas, Billy Hood , Ryan Cornelius. These are just some of the names Cleverly should remember in case he is questioned like Truss. Beyond remembering a name, Cleverly would be a heroic, unique and memorable foreign minister if he brought those unjustly detained abroad, tortured and beaten, safely home. Detained in Dubai: http://www.detainedindubai.org     Detained in Doha: https://www.detainedindoha.org             Radha Stirling: http://www.radhastirling.com              CLAN - Crypto Legal Advocacy Network - https://www.bitclan.org/     Due Process International: http://www.dueprocess.international              IPEX - Interpol & Extradition Reform & Defence Experts - https://www.ipexreform.com/     Podcast: http://www.gulfinjustice.news        Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/detainedindubai       YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/detainedindubai     mail: info@detainedindubai.org

Oil & Rights: Truss on the Gulf

Oil & Rights: Truss policies follow familiar model. Although the UK has been on a political rollercoaster the past few years, is it...

Children call upon David Beckham to help free their dad from Baghdad jail and save him from Qatar prison. The children of a Scottish man detained in Iraq and facing extradition to Qatar over an unsettled bank loan have called upon David Beckham to support his release. Brian Glendinning  of Fife, has been jailed in Baghdad for over 4 weeks after Qatar National Bank charged him with defaulting on a 2016 loan and had his name listed on Interpol. Glendinning was working in Doha at the time, but subsequently lost his job due to illness and had been negotiating with QNB to reschedule instalments. After landing a construction engineering contract in Iraq, Glendinning was finally in a position to resume payments, but instead, Qatar had him arrested at the Baghdad airport, and is seeking his extradition. Interpol expert and founder of Detained in Doha , Radha Stirling , who has taken up Glendinning’s case, explains, “ QNB registered a case against Brian without his knowledge, even while he was regularly communicating with them about the loan payments. This, outrageously, is their standard protocol. If anyone falls behind on their installments, QNB files a criminal complaint against them, and they will be convicted in absentia if they are out of the country. The bank immediately has them listed on Interpol as a fugitive, and demands payment for the full amount of the loan – regardless of how many payments have already been made. QNB, the government of Qatar, and Interpol have all put Brian in tremendous danger; he is being held in an Iraqi jail alongside radically anti-Western militants and terrorists; all because he lost his job and fell behind on a bank loan .” Stirling: ‘Unprecedented aggression by Qatar banks against debtors, Interpol abuse is alarming Glendinning’s three children have appealed to David Beckham to support their father’s release, “ We are asking everyone and anyone with influence and connections with Qatar to please help save our Dad, ” they said in a statement today, “ David Beckham is the international face of football, he agreed to a £10 million deal with Qatar to act as an ambassador for the country, and since Doha is hosting the World Cup this year, we just hope he may be able to use his position to convince Qatar to let our father come home.” The conundrum of Western relations with Qatar David Beckham is told he's made a 'big mistake' by taking £10m to be a paid ambassador for Qatar | Daily Mail Online Stirling says extradition from Iraq is almost certain given Qatar’s strong relations with the country, and QNB’s presence in Iraq. “ Brian needs public support; he needs the support of influencers and people who can have a real impact on Qatar’s authorities, particularly in the context of the World Cup. Unfortunately, the UK government has compromised their own ability to influence Doha, with tens of billions of pounds flowing into the British economy from Qatar, the FCDO has little leverage. But Qatari officials are cognizant of their country’s image, and want the World Cup to proceed without a glitch. If someone like David Beckham uses his celebrity and influence to advocate for Brian, it could make a huge difference.” Detained in Dubai: http://www.detainedindubai.org     Detained in Doha: https://www.detainedindoha.org             Radha Stirling: http://www.radhastirling.com              CLAN - Crypto Legal Advocacy Network - https://www.bitclan.org/     Due Process International: http://www.dueprocess.international              IPEX - Interpol & Extradition Reform & Defence Experts - https://www.ipexreform.com/     Podcast: http://www.gulfinjustice.news        Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/detainedindubai       YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/detainedindubai     mail: info@detainedindubai.org

Brian Glendinning's Children call upon David Beckham to help free their dad

Children call upon David Beckham to help free their dad from Baghdad jail and save him from Qatar prison. The children of a Scottish man...

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