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Unprecedented attack on US yacht calls for Princess Latifa to be returned to US jurisdiction “3 years ago, I received a shattering call from Princess Latifa in the midst of an unprecedented attack on a US yacht”, recalls Radha Stirling , founder of Detained in Dubai who Latifa called upon for help from the US flagged Nostromo. “It was a call nobody ever wants to receive. Latifa told me there were men outside and she didn’t know what was happening. She heard gunshots. I told her to hide, hang up the phone and make voicemails and videos that I could use as evidence. She swung into action and tried to record messages, but communications were abruptly stopped. Both Captain Hervé Jaubert and Princess Latifa were cut off. I sent a message to their phones, knowing that they would now be in the custody of their assailants. I wanted them to know we were aware of what had happened, that if anything happened to Hervé or Latifa, the world would know. WhatsApp transcript between Latifa and Radha: Latifa at 19:24 CET Please Help Please please there’s men outside I don’t know what’s happening (WhatsApp call received) Radha at 19:25 CET Record Send WhatsApp voice messages Record what you can and send Are you on a boat? Did he go to land? Are guns still firing? Can you send video? Call as soon as you can Or I will have to alert police ?? We have filed a missing persons report for both you and Hervé but can withdraw it in the event that both of you are confirmed safe with audio or visual We have shared all available evidence with a number of contacts across multiple countries. We have also scheduled a press release for automatic distribution to 30,000+ journalists at 3pm GMT that will be sent if we do not hear of your safety. If we hear from you, we will cancel the press release and withdraw the police report. Stirling explains “it was a high adrenaline, chilling few minutes, and I hadn’t received a text message from Hervé since 18:08 CET. My subsequent messages to him were not received. Nevertheless, I hoped that my messages would be read by the assailants. “This was a life and death situation and I was already concerned that Hervé, at least, may have been killed and dumped in the Indian ocean with the rest of the crew. Calls to the Indian Coastguard went ignored, but I ensured that all relevant authorities were informed of the situation and that our investigation continued. I managed to track the yacht and saw it returning to the UAE. If Hervé and Latifa were returned to Dubai, I feared they would both be ‘disappeared’. It was no small thing to rescue a daughter of Sheikh Mohammed and Hervé would be seen as a state enemy, a terrorist even, which would give them the justification to treat him however they liked. “I contacted an American lawyer who Latifa had been in touch with in order to arrange her asylum application. She provided me with the chilling video that millions have now seen. I watched it alone, late at night for the first time, stunned at the content and indeed worried that I was the only one who held these damning allegations against the powerful ruler. I was worried about my own safety and so immediately asked a friend to release the video on YouTube. Not only would this guarantee my safety, but it would help reporters be persuaded to publish the story which would also secure their safety. I immediately shared the video with close journalists, who were still nervous to publish such a huge incident against such a powerful man. “I instructed Toby Cadman , QC to open a United Nations application on behalf of Hervé Jaubert and Princess Latifa and he quickly swung into action. The FBI and US Coast Guard were notified and the case began gaining public support. A number of Twitter followers noticed the story and began assisting. It was gaining momentum. This story was not going away. “The UAE responded to pressure, releasing the prisoners except for Latifa, but I continued to be worried for Hervé, who was returned to his yacht minus his safety equipment. I followed his every move, asking him to provide video testimony as he sailed to safety. It was only when he was finally on a plane to London, that I could breathe. “They had to let him go. The United States government could not have an ally attacking a US flagged yacht and taking a US citizen from international waters to their own jurisdiction to keep him captive, or worse. Before the story broke, the United States was told that this was a kidnapping and extortion plan and that the attack on the yacht was in fact, a ‘rescue operation’, but as the evidence surfaced and after the release of Latifa’s testimony, they could no longer hold that line. - EXCLUSIVE: Former French spy who attempted dramatic jet ski rescue of desperate Dubai princess reveals how they were ambushed at sea by commandos 'enforcing Islamic law' (Daily Mail Online) “We have seen now that this kind of belligerence can not be tolerated in any way. We can not have our gulf allies extending their jurisdiction beyond their borders and in essence, committing crimes outside of their countries. We have seen what happens when our allies are emboldened. We end up with a Khashoggi style incident. The US’s lack of intervention and criticism in the attack on Nostromo may have inspired Saudi Arabia’s bold actions. If the UAE can get away with the assault on Nostromo and the kidnapping of a US citizen, Saudi Arabia would have felt they could get away with murder, literally. - Justice for Jamal Khashoggi “The question remains and is still the subject of speculation, how did the UAE locate Nostromo? In trying to fill in the blanks, some have speculated that it was Jaubert’s US mobile phone that gave away the position, but Hervé did not have his US phone with him. That was deactivated before the mission and sources have confirmed this was not how they located the yacht. Certainly they had narrowed down that Hervé Jaubert was involved, that he was at sea with the princess, somewhere in the Indian ocean. Christian Elombo, who had helped the girls jet ski to Nostromo, was now in custody after failing to safely leave Oman, and they had presented the escape mission as a ‘kidnapping and extortion plan’ to recruit help from their allies. “When combining these factors, along with their knowledge that Tiina was with her, it would not take long to locate and execute an attack on the yacht. An investigation is ongoing into phones Tiina brought aboard the yacht from Dubai, that sources close to the UAE government have indicated were used to triangulate Nostromo’s position, as well as other theories. It is important to narrow down what external private companies were involved in disclosing Nostromo’s location, and whether they violated any laws in doing so. - Most women in Rahaf's situation don't make it out of the Middle East: lawyer “It is my opinion though, that Sheikh Mohammed would have gone to any length to have Latifa returned to his custody. With the support of his allies and the pretence of a ‘rescue mission’, it is difficult to imagine a situation in which he did not achieve his goal. “The attack by allied government forces on a US yacht in international waters is unprecedented. It is significant and it can not happen again, yet it has largely been forgotten amongst the calls for Latifa’s freedom with the United Nations. I raised the issue in Washington DC, at conferences, to think tanks and policy advisors. They are shocked and stunned that this happened, that they perhaps even assisted or condoned the attack, being persuaded that it was a rescue mission. “If indeed, they did condone the attack and abduction of a US citizen, they made a huge mistake and should have undertaken their own investigations or made contact with Nostromo in advance. If they did not condone or were unaware, that’s even more concerning. That would mean the UAE and India were willing to violently attack a US yacht in international waters, without authorization from their ally. So which one is it? “And what of Latifa now? The core of the issue here is that India attacked a US vessel and abducted Princess Latifa from it. She was taken forcibly as she explains in her latest video testimony, to the UAE. There was no legal basis for this unlawful transfer. If Latifa had been on US soil, would they have taken her from there too? Well, this raises the issue of Sheikha Shamsa having been taken from British soil decades ago. A kidnapping investigation was opened at the time, but nothing ever came of it and this clearly set precedent for the latest abduction. “There are calls for the UAE to offer proof of life, after her latest video testimonies were released last month. It is unlikely that, given everything, Latifa would have been killed but she will be increasingly seen as a national security threat which, we hope, will not hinder her chances of freedom or otherwise, contribute to any ill treatment in Dubai. “The United States had the best chance of securing her freedom. She was taken from a US yacht against her will and she should, arguably, be returned to US jurisdiction once more.” Detained in Dubai is seeking a diplomatic resolution to this situation. - “UAE must release Princess Latifa immediately and unconditionally” - Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai - Radha Stirling in depth with Revive FM - Israel peace deals, Princess Latifa & Middle East justice - The Runaway Princesses of Dubai

Taken from a US yacht: Princess Latifa & Hervé Jaubert - Did the US condone the attack?

Unprecedented attack on US yacht calls for Princess Latifa to be returned to US jurisdiction “3 years ago, I received a shattering call...

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Due Process on trial in Bangladesh as British courts expose hacking, forced confessions and torture being used in Dhaka's High Court. The most important court case you never heard of, that could potentially impact the security of international investors, travellers, and expats across the globe; is currently playing out in the High Court in Dhaka, Bangladesh. On the surface, the case seems obscure enough, and its significance minimal; but legal experts warn that the outcome will set a precedent that could affect the future of international law, human rights, and determine the fate of the concept of due process itself. The investment assets of Swiss national Khater Massaad were frozen by a Bangladeshi court late last year on the basis of a judgment against Massaad in the UAE. Massaad is appealing that order, and it has been conditionally suspended while the appeal process is underway. This summary, however, conceals the true import of the case. Radha Stirling , founder of Due Process International and CEO of Detained in Dubai , explains, “ What is being decided in the Massaad case has nothing to do with the freezing of assets, but rather, it has to do with accepting or rejecting the validity of the original judgment in Ras Al Khaimah from which the case in Bangladesh stems. This is a judgment reached by a captive judiciary in the UAE, based on fabricated evidence, testimony extracted by torture and intimidation, and a despotic legal system that is currently being sued in the UK and America for allegations of grave human rights violations, gross abuse of due process, and illegal hacking of private communications. This is a case that RAK admitted was baseless when they tried to pursue Dr. Massaad in Saudi Arabia, where the case was ultimately dismissed. The ruling of the High Court in Dhaka will either be in defence of internationally accepted norms of due process and human rights, or it will represent the abandonment of those core principles of law. The importance of this case cannot be overstated.” - UK courts expose UAE hacking, forced confessions & torture Khater Massaad is the former friend and close adviser of RAK’s Ruler, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qassimi , and headed the emirate’s drive to become a hub for foreign investment as CEO of the Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority until Saud undertook a purge of high-ranking executives to consolidate his power amidst a political row with his brothers. Massaad was forced out, and along with others from RAK’s investment sector like Oussama El Omari , Karam Al Sadeq , Jihad Quzmar , and Johnson George , he has been subjected to a campaign of legal abuse, propaganda, threats and intimidation by Sheikh Saud and his government. “ Sheikh Saud has stopped at nothing to persecute Dr. Massaad ,” Stirling says, “ New information continues to surface about the lengths to which he has gone to punish Khater Massaad, not for any wrongdoing, but because he suspected Massaad of having the wrong sympathies in the family dispute over the throne. Jihad Quzmar and Karam Al Sadeq, both of whom are currently in detention in Ras Al Khaimah, are suing Sheikh Saud in the UK, along with members of his inner circle, for alleged torture and human rights abuses committed against them in order to force them to corroborate Saud’s false accusations against Dr. Massaad. Farhad Azima , an associate of Dr. Massaad, is also suing Saud in the UK for the state-sponsored hacking of his email as part of RAK’s campaign against Khater Massaad. Oussama El Omari, the former head of the Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone Authority is suing Saud in the United States for false prosecution, abuse, and slander because he too refused to wrongfully incriminate Massaad. - Vendettas by RAK ruler alarm foreign investors “The relentless abuse of power by Sheikh Saud is breathtaking ,” Stirling continues, “ There is evidence that he has tampered with the legal process, potentially bribed judges, journalists, paid PR firms to conduct smear campaigns, hired companies in India to hack private emails, and virtually deputised lawyers from Dechert law firm to engage in blackmail, threats, and ‘enhanced interrogation techniques’ which are classified as torture; all to fabricate a case against Dr. Massaad. RAK has a puppet judiciary, and when Saud is unable to get a foreign court to validate his charges, he gets a rubber stamp verdict from his own court and seeks enforcement of it abroad. That is what has happened now in Bangladesh, after the case was rejected in Saudi Arabia. So if the High Court in Dhaka goes along with Saud’s case against Khater Massaad, they will be validating every illegal measure Saud undertook to create the case – hacking, blackmail, intimidation, corruption, and torture.” - RAK Ceramics Bangladesh : UAE "asks" Bangladesh to freeze assets of RAKIA CEO Khater Massaad Stirling warns that such a ruling would have a chilling effect on investor confidence in Bangladesh. “ The rule of law and due process form the basis for investor security in any jurisdiction. Ras Al Khaimah is already suffering a severe backlash from investors who no longer feel the emirate is a safe destination for their capital due to Sheikh Saud’s despotic behaviour, if business people feel that Bangladesh will not uphold the integrity of due process protections, and that local courts will comply with judgements from lawless international jurisdictions, this will be devastating to their confidence in the Bangladeshi legal system. No one wants to invest in a place where courts accept the legitimacy of confession through torture, falsified evidence, and the judgments of kangaroo courts. Bangladesh has the opportunity now to stand up for due process and international norms of justice and to halt RAK’s attempts to essentially expand the jurisdiction of Sheikh Saud beyond his borders .” The High Court of England has summarily refused extradition to the UAE precisely because the country as a whole is a habitual human rights abuser and the legal system falls abysmally short of international standards. RAK, Stirling notes, is a uniquely egregious offender. - UAE Sheikh receives Bangladeshi State Minister raising human rights issues “ We have been in contact with the Swiss ambassador to Bangladesh, as well as to the UAE; and we have communicated with business and investment groups involved in financing projects in Bangladesh to alert them about this case and the ramifications of its outcome ,” Stirling explains, “ It is immensely concerning to them and the High Court in Dhaka should know that considerably more is at stake in this case than the assets of Khater Massaad. The court will be deciding whether or not due process is respected in Bangladesh, and thus, whether or not Bangladesh is a safe place to invest in or even visit.”

Due Process on trial in Bangladesh

Due Process on trial in Bangladesh as British courts expose hacking, forced confessions and torture being used in Dhaka's High Court. The...

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Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi seeks to woo Bangladesh’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam, MP in Khater Massaad case, raising egregious human rights issues. There is no doubt about it, Sheikh Saud wants money. With tourism and investment on the decline, with no oil to drill in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, with allegations of human rights abuses and torture, RAK is not the glorious well marketed destination Saud had envisaged when he seized the throne ten years ago. Article: ‘Quid Pro Quo UAE’ using diplomacy to expand powers Although his advisor, Swiss National, Dr Khater Massaad, put the emirate on the map and generated billions as the CEO of RAKIA and RAK Ceramics, Sheikh Saud wanted his money too, initiating a series of false allegations against him, ostensibly designed to seize his assets. Several times, Massaad has removed his name from Interpol’s database, a tactic designed to harass and extort funds from victims. Sheikh Saud failed in extradition requests and civil lawsuits taken in Saudi Arabia due to a lack of evidence of any wrongdoing. After failing to prove his case, Sheikh Saud ordered his own personal courts in Ras Al Khaimah to issue legal judgments against Dr Massaad, which he is now using to circumvent due process, and apply for Bangladesh to transfer Massaad’s Bangladeshi interests to the ruler. Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai commented on the case, “This is an outrageous violation of due process. Sheikh Saud has attempted to push through his own without-merit legal judgments, without a court considering the actual facts of the case. He has already failed in other jurisdictions and is simply shopping for a friendlier ally to enforce his fake judgments. In the evidence bundle submitted to Bangladesh, he includes a witness statement from lawyer Karam Al Sadeq , a Jordanian national who is being unfairly jailed by the Sheikh and has sued him in the UK for this very same forced confession. It is almost unbelievable that Sheikh Saud would rely on evidence that has been, according to the lawsuit, the result of human rights violations and torture. It is even more ludicrous if the Bangladeshi courts permit such evidence to be considered. Article: UAE “asks” Bangladesh to freeze assets of RAKIA CEO Khater Massaad This case is now about human rights. Sheikh Saud’s agents have been accused in an English lawsuit of torturing his witnesses in order to gain statements from them that he can use in his attempts to seize money that is not even owed to him, that no court should allow. If Bangladesh allows this litigation to continue, they will be supporting this absurd cycle of egregious human rights violations. “The Ras Al Khaimah ruler appears to be seeking a quid pro quo arrangement with Bangladesh, for the transfer of Khater Massaad’s assets. If Bangladesh allows the emirate to circumvent natural justice, and allow evidence from torture victim Karam Al Sadeq, to be considered by their courts, they will encouraging the systematic abuse of foreign nationals in the emirate of RAK. Article: Prominent Swiss businessman has assets frozen and warns investors “Shahriar Alam, MP needs to be aware of the implications of supporting the authoritarian ruler. Not only will it be supporting human rights violations, but any encouragement of the circumvention of due process, will render Bangladesh an unsafe place for investors”.

UAE Sheikh receives Bangladeshi State Minister raising human rights issues

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi seeks to woo Bangladesh’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam, MP in Khater Massaad case, raising...

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Desperate plea from German detained in UAE at whim of autonomous Sheikh “I received a call from Dieter Kellouche today” , says Radha Stirling , CEO of Detained in Dubai , who is representing the 42 year old man left to rot in a Sharjah desert jail. “Dieter told me he has not been seen by the German Embassy in more than a year and that he doesn’t know why. It hasn’t been due to covid restrictions as he knows the British consulate visited one of their citizens. He feels he has been forgotten and abandoned by his country. “This is a totally unacceptable situation. Dieter has been held because a Sheikh made some unevidenced allegations against him. He’s been sentenced to life in prison, not because he has committed any crime, but because of the influence that the Sheikh has over the local court system in Sharjah. We see it all the time. “If someone with power makes an allegation, it is sufficient to cause that person to lose their freedom, forever. In this case, the German Embassy even discouraged Dieter from campaigning for his release. What did they expect? That he would sit quietly in a prison for the rest of his life, for a crime he did not commit? Dieter has been on hunger strike and still, the German Embassy has done nothing. His blankets were taken from the guards, leaving him cold and unable to sleep, and he has been bullied. It’s a frightening system and he is losing hope. He has no legal route to appeal the court’s decision and, even if he did, no court in Sharjah would rule against the Sheikh. “The German government has a responsibility here to ensure its ally, the UAE, does not feel confident that it can lock up German citizens who have committed absolutely no crime, without sanction. The German foreign minister needs to engage with their counterpart in the UAE in this case. They are already aware that the particular Sheikh involved is a ‘problem’, and the UAE rulers can not allow for this kind of abuse of power to continue.” “The UAE’s human rights have been under the spotlight with Princess Latifa’s case being at the forefront of international attention. We will be taking Dieter’s case to the United Nations in Geneva but frankly, the German government holds the power to push for his release. Other countries have been much more active in helping their citizens and it’s time that Germany followed suit.”

German Embassy “not visited me in more than a year” - Dieter Kellouche

Desperate plea from German detained in UAE at whim of autonomous Sheikh “I received a call from Dieter Kellouche today”, says Radha...

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- Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai Detained in Dubai ’s CEO, Radha Stirling , who was in touch with Princess Latifa during the attack on Hervé Jaubert’s yacht, issued a statement on Latifa’s calls for help. “We were told by spokespeople for the Dubai royal family, by Princess Haya, and by Mary Robinson that Princess Latifa was in the safe and loving care of her family following her capture off the coast of India as she tried to escape the UAE. Sheikh Mohammed has persistently defied the United Nations inquiry into her welfare with the same assurances. We have seen now exactly what the ‘safe and loving care of her family’ means. It means house arrest, armed guards, and absolute captivity. Once again, Princess Latifa has demonstrated her courageous will to be free, to expose the truth about her father, and to continue struggling against the oppression she and millions of women in the region suffer. What is the world going to do now? How many times does Latifa have to escape? How many times does she have to smuggle out recorded messages about her plight, before the international community responds, intervenes, and demands her freedom? When footage was released of Latifa’s meeting with Mary Robinson, we condemned it as a ruthless PR stunt in which Princess Latifa was clearly an unwilling participant. We have consistently called upon the United Nations to pursue our complaint on Latifa’s behalf, and insisted that Latifa be free to speak for herself in a safe jurisdiction outside of the UAE. The fact that the latest recording appears to have been made in 2019, and there has been no word from Latifa since then, is deeply concerning. The UAE must release her immediately and unconditionally. The Emirates has shown itself time and time again to be untrustworthy in their assurances about the rights and freedoms guaranteed by international law, not only with regards to foreign citizens in the country, women of all nationalities, but also to members of the ruling family themselves. False imprisonment, forced confessions, torture and intimidation are standard procedures in the UAE, and even deaths in custody. Yet the UAE continues to enjoy the favourable media coverage, access to investment and Western tourism, and the political privileges normally granted to nations that comply with global norms of due process and human rights protections. From the beginning of her story, Latifa has been emblematic of the subjugation of the rights of women in the Emirates and the broader region, and the inability or the unwillingness of the international community to resolve her case and to address the dismal reality of women in the Middle East is a damning indictment of our institutions. Furthermore, Latifa’s case illustrates the top-down corruption of the UAE government which prevents the possibility of genuine legal and social reforms. If this is the treatment a princess is afforded, what then of the average woman? We have British, American, and European citizens currently engaged in legal actions against the UAE government over allegations of torture, wrongful detention and other grave human rights violations; Princess Latifa, if she is indeed still alive, remains unlawfully imprisoned; hundreds of innocent foreign nationals have had their lives turned upside-down through the UAE’s shameless abuse of the Interpol Red Notice system, and many more are suffering false prosecutions inside the country. Simultaneously, however, the UAE can still promote itself as a holiday destination, can still be touted as a modern, liberal oasis in the Middle East, and as a hub for foreign investment. This has to change. There were no serious consequences for the UAE when they ordered an illegal raid of Latifa’s vessel in international waters; no serious consequences then occurred for Saudi Arabia over the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. The continued captivity of Latifa and her sister Shamsa (abducted over a decade earlier) has not negatively impacted the UAE’s relations with the West or prompted any significant criticism that might lead to improvements in the policies of the government or reforms in the society. Our silence has emboldened what can only be characterised as a despotic regime in the UAE, and our willingness to look the other way when case after case of legal abuse and violations of human rights present themselves, only increases the risks to our own citizens whom we still encourage to visit the Emirates, and only discredits our advocacy of the rights and freedoms we know very well are systematically denied in the UAE. The United Arab Emirates has not embraced international standards on human rights, and should not be embraced by the international community until it does. Insofar as Princess Latifa is a symbol of women’s oppression in the region, the UAE has the opportunity to advance that broader cause by granting Latifa what every woman in the Arab world deserves: freedom.” The UAE must release Princess Latifa immediately and unconditionally - Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai Radha Stirling founded Detained in Dubai in 2008 and has since helped and advised more than 15,000 foreign nationals facing trouble in the UAE. Stirling is an expert witness, civil and criminal justice specialist, legislative, investment risk, business and policy advisor to the public and private sectors, speaker and host of the Gulf in Justice Podcast , covering the region in depth.

“UAE must release Princess Latifa immediately and unconditionally”

- Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai Detained in Dubai’s CEO, Radha Stirling, who was in touch with Princess Latifa during the...

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Award-winning businessman and innovator, Dr Khater Massaad , has warned investors to stay away from Ras Al Khaimah after years of fighting off frivolous Interpol notices, extradition requests and international freezing orders that have no legal basis. The ruler of Ras Al Khaimah , Sheikh Saud bin Saqr al Qasimi, has asked Bangladesh to freeze the assets of former advisor Dr Khater Massad, and the man behind RAK Ceramics and RAKIA, in an attempt to seize money that simply doesn’t belong to him. While fighting off frivolous claims, Khater Massaad has taken the opportunity to warn foreign investors of the dangers of doing business in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE. “Ruler Sheikh Saud is using diplomatic channels to try to steal money from foreign investors and this puts every investor at risk. He has jailed foreigners, put them on Interpol and used his own personal courts to issue judgments in his favour. He then uses these judgments to pursue other people’s money abroad”, said Radha Stirling , CEO of Detained in Dubai and Due Process International . Khater Massaad brought in billions to the tiny northern emirate during his tenure but is now warning others of the risks of doing business in the UAE. “Investors need to understand that Ras Al Khaimah is a very dangerous place to do business. There is no due process. You can not defend yourself in court and you can be jailed without charge to clear the pathway to steal your assets. This is no place to do business”, said Dr Massaad, award-winning former CEO of RAKIA and RAK Ceramics. Due Process International and the Gulf Investment Monitor have contacted the Business Councils in the Gulf region to encourage them to warn and safeguard citizens against the serious risk of human rights abuses, imprisonment and even torture, if a greedy business partner or Sheikh wishes to take their money. Read the full article at Oro Media

Prominent Swiss businessman has assets frozen and warns investors

Award-winning businessman and innovator, Dr Khater Massaad, has warned investors to stay away from Ras Al Khaimah after years of fighting...

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British and American courts have been asked to rule on the treatment of two men held in the UAE as pawns by an ambitious ruler who has, last month, used “forced confessions obtained by torture”, in ‘quid pro quo’ attempts to seize funds that don’t belong to him. Dechert lawyers have been sued by two lawyers for human rights violations, forced confessions and torture. Last week, it was revealed that these “confessions” obtained by force, have now been submitted as “evidence” to seize money from a Swiss national through the Bangladesh courts where he has business interests. Dr Khater Massaad , former advisor to the ruler of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, is another target for the tiny northern emirate. The oil-dry emirate needs to make money elsewhere, through enterprise, manufacturing, corruption, extortion and theft of foreign investment. The dangerous “wild west of the UAE” extorts and steals funds under threat of imprisonment or worse. “When a target is outside of the country, more creativity is needed” , explains Radha Stirling , CEO of Detained in Dubai and Due Process International , who is representing a number of victims of the regime. “Swiss national Khater Massaad, is seen as a ‘cash cow’ by the Sheikh. Saud’s claim was thrown out by the Saudi courts, dismissed for a lack of merit and evidence and Saud’s repeated Interpol red notices were dismissed. As a last resort, Saud decided to pursue Dr Massaad’s assets in Bangladesh using the forced confession of Jordanian lawyer, Karam Al Sadeq. Sadeq has sued Dechert lawyers in the UK for their egregious human rights violations against him in obtaining his forced confession. RAK Ceramics Bangladesh : UAE "asks" Bangladesh to freeze assets of RAKIA CEO Khater Massaad “It’s outrageous that Sheikh Saud is holding innocent men in his personal prisons and using international law firms like Dechert to force confessions from them, then use those confessions to seize funds that simply do not belong to him. No wonder Director Neil Gerrard resigned. “The UAE must be reminded that all of emirates make up the United Arab Emirates, and Sheikh Saud’s lust for other people’s money have resulted in the torture and unfair detention of a number of foreign nationals. “The detainees are pursuing legal actions while in custody, placing them at enormous risk of retaliation, but they have already suffered the gravest inhumane treatment at the hands of the ruler and his men and they were left with no other option. City lawyers accused of torture threats in Gulf “The situation in Ras Al Khaimah needs diplomatic intervention. We have men being held and tortured for their false confessions to be used in foreign civil cases to steal money for the emirate. How can any civilised country support tourism, trade, security and investment from a country whose human rights abuses against foreigners are being pursued vigorously through courts and through the United Nations?” Radha Stirling founded Detained in Dubai in 2008 and has since helped and advised more than 15,000 foreign nationals facing trouble in the UAE. Stirling is an expert witness, civil and criminal justice specialist, legislative, investment risk, business and policy advisor to the public and private sectors, speaker and host of the Gulf in Justice Podcast , covering the region in depth.

UK and US courts asked to rule on UAE torture of lawyer

British and American courts have been asked to rule on the treatment of two men held in the UAE as pawns by an ambitious ruler who has,...

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Former advisor to Ras Al Khaimah ruler, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, breaks silence. Khater Massaad is the former CEO of RAKIA, RAK Ceramics and various enterprises embarked upon during his tenure and before the ruler’s purge of foreign nationals he felt “knew too much”. In his first interview on the topic, Swiss national Dr Khater Massaad speaks with expert Radha Stirling , CEO of Detained in Dubai , Due Process International and host of the Gulf in Justice Podcast. The Gulf in Justice Episode can be heard on Spotify, Google Podcasts and other major platforms. Alternatively, please listen directly via the Gulf in Justice Website , or watch the interview on the Detained in Dubai YouTube channel . About Khater Massaad Massaad is arguably the most influential businessman in the recent history of Ras Al Khaimah.” according to Construction Week . The Lebanese born professional pilot and industrial developer, Dr Massaad, graduated from the University of Lausanne in Switzerland with a PhD in Geophysics and an MSc in Mathematics. He is a citizen of both countries. An astute and visionary business leader, “lauded for extracting wealth from the barren rocks of the Ras Al Khaimah mountains , helping transform the emirate into an unlikely manufacturing hub and picking up numerous business awards along the way” . A prized ally and close advisor to the ruler of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), Sheikh Saud bin Saqr al Qasimi, Massaad was the founder of RAK Ceramics and the driving force behind unprecedented success for the northern Emirate bringing in revenue of more than $1bn from more than 150 countries, securing RAK’s position on the map and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Business Award (MRM Business Award) for industry. RAK Ceramics was awarded the “Best Brand of the Year” by the Middle East Business Leaders Summit, and was rated the number 3 UAE brand, only after Etisilat and Emirates Airlines. Massaad was presented with the Visionary CEO Award at the Middle East Business Leaders Summit and Awards in Dubai in April 2010. Dr Massad’s continued promotion of Ras Al Khaimah guided the destiny of what is now “ the topmost ceramic manufacturing organisation in the world , and a jewel in the sector of the whole Middle East, all achieved in 16 years”. In recognition of his efforts in attracting foreign investment to Ras Al Khaimah, Dr Massaad received the "FDI Personality of-the Year” award, noting his “spectacular transformation of Ras Al Khaimah into a thriving business and investment destination in the region”. Previous winners included the Mexican President Vincente Fox, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and Brazilian President Luis Inácio Lula d Silva. This Award is in recognition to Dr. Massaad's diligent and successful efforts to attract foreign investment to Ras Al Khaimah thereby contributing greatly to the continued economic growth and development of the emirate and adding to its attraction as an investment location," Courtney Fingar, Editor of Financial Times' niche magazine fDi said. Dr Massaad notoriety in the Emirate led to his appointment as Advisor to the Crown Prince in 2003 and CEO of RAK Investment Authority (RAKIA). Never disappointing, in his first two years, Massaad attracted more than $1bn in industry investments to the Emirate. RAKIA was awarded the “Top Ten Global Free Zones of the Future” and the “Most Attractive” for FDI. Known as the “Golden Boy of the Emirates” for widespread achievements in the region, Dr Massaad’s intense geophysical research and commitment to achievement led him to turn vision into success at every turn. Massaad was the Managing Director of several development companies including RAKEEN development, Al Hamra Real Estate Company and the Al Hamra Fort Hotel. “We have achieved great success in placing Ras Al Khaimah on the global map”, Dr Massaad recalls in an interview with the Seoul Times . Having developed long lasting success in the UAE, Massaad has now turned his attention to his own projects where he applies unparalleled drive, knowledge, innovation and experience to leading international enterprise. “There is no stopping Dr Massaad! He is a force of nature”. But rather than thanking those who helped drive the Emirate to success, Sheikh Saud embarked upon a massive purge when he came into power. This included jailing workers and employees of the former ruler, issuing frivolous Interpol notices, and robbing them of their net worth through a series of abusive and meritless legal proceedings in his own personal courts. Massaad has fought off three baseless Interpol notices, a meritless extradition request and several civil court actions, but the Sheikh continues in his endeavours to seize assets that simply don’t belong to him. Massaad discusses the “wild west of the UAE” in his interview with expert witness, Radha Stirling. Radha Stirling, is founder and CEO of UK / USA based legal and human rights organisation Detained in Dubai, Expert Witness and respected analyst of Middle East Policy. Copyright © Due Process International. Due Process International Limited is a Company registered in the British Virgin Islands under company number 2030378 with its registered offices at Intershore Chambers, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands.

Interview with Khater Massaad on Sheikh Saud, ruler of RAK

Former advisor to Ras Al Khaimah ruler, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, breaks silence. Khater Massaad is the former CEO of RAKIA, RAK...

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https://detained-in-dubai.prowly.com/126048-uae-asks-bangladesh-to-freeze-assets-of-rakia-ceo-khater-massaad “It was nothing short of shocking to see the UAE hand over British national Christian Michel immediately upon India’s unlawful attack of a US yacht” , said Radha Stirling , CEO of Detained in Dubai and Due Process International , who represents Sheikha Latifa Al Maktoum and who witnessed one of the most egregious quid pro quo deals unfold before her eyes. “British national Christian Michel was wanted for extradition by Indian authorities, but the UAE held him for a rainy day. When the daughter of the ruler of Dubai, Sheikha Latifa Al Maktoum, embarked on a dramatic escape mission that led her to sail through the international waters of the Indian ocean, the UAE called on India for help. India executed an unlawful and hostile attack on a US flagged yacht in international waters, kidnapped the princess and her friends, violently assaulted them, then delivered them into the custody of the UAE, against international law. The attack occurred while I was on the telephone to Princess Latifa. It was frightening and shocking. "Normalisation with Israel must not lead to greater impunity for the UAE" - Radha Stirling “This was not for nothing. The UAE granted politically important extraditions to India, circumventing lawful due process at the expense of all involved, and now, Mr Michel has complained of human rights violations and torture. This should come as no surprise. If India is willing to violate international treaties and law, to kidnap a young woman who was escaping torture, why would they be expected to abide by other international cooperations, including the preservation of basic human rights. Princess Latifa repeated to them that she would rather die than be returned to Dubai. They took her from outside of their country where they have no jurisdiction and placed her inside another country, without any legal process taking place. This is outrageous and the British government should have more strenuously objected to the extradition of Christian Michel under these circumstances. “Both India and the UAE have shown the world that they are absolutely willing to bend and break laws and exchange favours, even if those favours are directly against their Western allies. India abducted a US national, beat him violently then sent him to a third country. In return, the UAE sent them a British National. These diplomatic deals need to stop and, while the United Nations provides some recourse, the true solution lies with their allies. If Western allies tolerate this belligerence, it will not stop. AgustaWestland scam: Christian Michel detained to return India's favour? “We are seeing an increase in the number of human rights complaints, torture claims and the unacceptable treatment of foreign nationals by our supposed allies, but it is not enough to leave the United Nations as the only remedy for victims. Governments must act now to actively discourage and if needed, sanction friends who ignore these limits. “Lawlessness leads to extraterritorial killings, kidnappings and the expansion of rules and ideologies into our jurisdiction. If left unchecked, belligerence leads to Khashoggi style executions, assault and kidnappings like Sheikh Shamsa Al Maktoum from British soil. “It is no wonder at all then, that rulers are issuing their own legal judgments and seeking to enforce them through international enforcement agreements. It’s no wonder that Interpol is being constantly abused by totalitarian states. We have UAE ruler Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi writing out his own legal judgments in his personal courts, then appealing on a ‘quid pro quo’ basis to other countries, like Bangladesh, to freeze assets that don’t even belong to him. Swiss national Khater Massaad, has fought off three abusive Interpol red notice reports, an extradition request and legal claims through the civil courts. So what does Sheikh Saud do? He tries to use diplomacy and “quid pro quo” deals, to unlawfully seize funds held in other countries. UAE “asks” Bangladesh to freeze assets of RAKIA CEO Khater Massaad “The kind of situation being created by a lack of our own diplomatic intervention, is a lawless alliance of countries doing favours for each other, either for political motivation or financial reasons. If countries can practice law through handshake deals, they can seize assets, kidnap, torture and kill all day long and apparently, there is nobody to stop them. “Our organisation has advised governments to intervene and address the growing issue. We are warning investors and travellers that there is a very real risk posed to them when they entangle themselves in these countries. We are encouraging victims to take legal actions abroad. Investors are best to look elsewhere until they can be assured a genuine legal process or otherwise, the more they succeed, the bigger target they become.” Vendettas by RAK ruler alarm foreign investors Radha Stirling founded Detained in Dubai in 2008 and has since helped and advised more than 15,000 foreign nationals facing trouble in the UAE. Stirling is an expert witness, civil and criminal justice specialist, legislative, investment risk, business and policy advisor to the public and private sectors, speaker and host of the Gulf in Justice Podcast , covering the region in depth.

‘Quid Pro Quo UAE’ using diplomacy to expand powers

https://detained-in-dubai.prowly.com/126048-uae-asks-bangladesh-to-freeze-assets-of-rakia-ceo-khater-massaad “It was nothing short of...

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Handing out Interpol notices like his own personal business cards, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi is described as “The King of Interpol Abuse”. The ruler of a small northern region of the UAE, called Ras Al Khaimah, Sheikh Saud has had to find other means to bring in money to his oil-dry Emirate. The Sheikh set his sights on foreign investors for development in the manufacturing, trade and tourism sectors, creating a free trade zone and offshore centre to lure in foreigners but, sadly, investment was a one way ticket for many trusting foreigners. Sheikh Saud has been a hands on commercial ruler, personally involved in the “business” of his Emirate and directly involved with the foreign nationals he called upon to build his visions. The darker reality of this well marketed success story though, is that emirate is rife with corruption and foreign investors inevitably become prey. Customs officials have demanded large unlawful payments from businesses and failure to pay means jail, or worse. Families have been threatened if demands have not been met and people have lost their entire lives to a tyrannical rule of law that plagues the emirate. The Sheikh has sought to extend his powers beyond his borders by using diplomatic and manipulative channels to extort funds from foreign nationals, and to exert pressure over them to gain their silence or their cooperation. One of the Sheikh’s favourite tools is international crime organisation Interpol, who are headquartered in France, but who remain unaccountable, holding a kind of diplomatic immunity. The controversial reporting agency shares information between countries, notifying law enforcement that someone is wanted for arrest and extradition. No checks and balances exist and an autonomous ruler, like Sheikh Saud, can have an adversary listed on Interpol in a few minutes. The UAE is one of Interpol’s largest donors and along with Qatar, are using Interpol as an open cheque book, as a method to extort funds from victims in return for the deletion of an unlawful notice. Swiss national and former head of RAKIA, Dr Khater Massaad, helped Sheikh Saud build the Emirate. In fact, he was appointed as his official advisor and helped bring in billions in foreign investment. Now, the ruler sees Massaad as a blank cheque and has issued an unevidenced judgment against him through his personal courts and listed him on Interpol, not once but three times! Sheikh Saud had wanted to prevent Massaad from returning to Switzerland and keep him in Saudi Arabia, where Saud thought he would gain diplomatic cooperation to seize funds. Saudi Arabia threw Sheikh Saud’s case out because of a lack of evidence. Interpol three times deleted cases against Massaad, and Saudi denied the UAE’s extradition request. Sheikh Saud’s demand is simple. He wants money, whether it is owed or not and Massaad fully expects to see several more Interpol notices reported since the UAE is not being sanctioned for abuse. Vendettas by RAK ruler alarm foreign investors “I am not a criminal and I am not a fugitive”, said Dr Khater Massaad in response to the Interpol warrants. “I have managed to remove three notices from Sheikh Saud. I have fought extradition requests and proven my innocence. How can an organisation like Interpol allow repeated notices to be issued by the UAE when they are very clearly being used to harass, intimidate and extort?” US national Oussama El Omari, former CEO of the Ral Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone Authority (RAFTZA) told the Washington Post “Interpol’s ‘red notices’ are being abused. One ruined my life.” NY Court orders damages for man targeted by UAE Sheikh & his US agents because he “knew too much” “Both Mr El Omari and Mr Massaad have had their lives and businesses turned upside down by frivolous Interpol red notices, published by a criminal data sharing agency with a pay to play business ideology”, said Radha Stirling, CEO of Due Process International and IPEX Reform , who is representing the gentlemen. “Sheikh Saud’s unsanctioned autocratic rule, has seen him jail foreign nationals for the purpose of forcing their confession to implicate people like Khater Massaad. Quite shockingly, Sheikh Saud’s ‘evidence’ contained a forced confession by prisoner Karam Al Sadeq , a Jordanian lawyer who has in fact, sued in the English courts for his forced confession and torture. All of this is over money that isn’t even owed to Saud. He has used Interpol against Massaad, against El Omari and against several other investors in the region. One red notice saw a Georgian investment partner locked up for almost a year before he was finally released. Sheikh Saud wants cash and not because it was owed, but because he has the power of jail at his fingertips. Who gives him that power? Interpol. “The UAE, along with China, Russia, Venezuela, Egypt and Turkey, have been widely criticised for their abuse of Interpol’s database as a tool to punish and lock up dissenting voices, journalists, credit card debtors and political rivals but it is widely used by the private sector and greedy Sheikh’s a tool of extortion. Interpol is profitable to these regimes. Even if they donate $15m or $100m, they will be able to get that back through jailing wealthy victims abroad. This is a totally unacceptable situation and we are lobbying leading democratic members to insist upon changes within Interpol. It simply can’t go on like this. The abusive red notices are a flagrant violation of human rights and abusive countries must be denied access to the database”. A group of victims of the despotic Ras Al Khaimah ruler, have come together to warn foreign nationals to stay away from the region, and advise Abu Dhabi to rein in this rogue behaviour that is so badly devastating the UAE. The Gulf Investment Monitor , headed by Stirling, has written to the Swiss Business Council, individuals and investors considering diversifying into the region, “It’s just not worth it. The more successful you are, the more you are made a target 1and leaving the country won’t prevent the onslaught”, she warned. The Interpol’s credibility is once again on the line as a top Emirati cop is vying to become the head of the international police agency. Radha Stirling founded Detained in Dubai in 2008 and has since helped and advised more than 15,000 foreign nationals facing trouble in the UAE. Stirling is an expert witness, civil and criminal justice specialist, legislative, investment risk, business and policy advisor to the public and private sectors, speaker and host of the Gulf in Justice Podcast , covering the region in depth.

The King of Interpol Abuse

Handing out Interpol notices like his own personal business cards, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi is described as “The King of Interpol...

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British woman in tears after Dubai police advise her she faces a “500,000 dirham fine, two years in prison and deportation”. Radha Stirling , CEO of Detained in Dubai and Due Process International announced in the Gulf in Justice Podcast , that the woman detained in Dubai has been asked to attend the police station today in an attempt to persuade the Ukrainian complainant to drop the case. Stirling said “the woman has been told she faces £100,000 in fines, imprisonment and deportation, and was in tears last night. The UAE has criminalised practically every visitor to the country under their vague and poorly drafted Cybercrime laws. Today’s news really hit home for the woman, who has never been in trouble in her life. She is entangled in an alien legal system and the seriousness of a simple WhatsApp message sent to a fellow European in the heat of an argument, is difficult to comprehend. It is a nightmare for her. “This situation is incredibly common, but most cases are not brought to the media. Even if she were only issued a small fine, she would still be processed through the legal system and held in Dubai for months. This alone can ruin lives and cause significant financial and emotional damage. Imagine facing all of this over a simple WhatsApp message sent in private. “The FCO’s hands off approach to the UAE is unacceptable. When we see countries like Malaysia, the US and Canada helping their citizens, we have to ask why the UK isn’t? The UK is one of the UAE’s strongest allies on many levels and can not genuinely say they have no influence. Why is the UK allowing such active tourism marketing towards its citizens, but not demanding their safety?” Radha Stirling founded Detained in Dubai in 2008 and has since helped and advised more than 15,000 foreign nationals facing trouble in the UAE. Stirling is an expert witness, civil and criminal justice specialist, legislative, investment risk, business and policy advisor to the public and private sectors, speaker and host of the Gulf in Justice Podcast , covering the region in depth. Further resources: UK Embassy responds to woman detained in Dubai over WhatsApp - at the Detained in Dubai Newsroom Woman stuck in Dubai over WhatsApp "frightened to death" - at the Detained in Dubai Newsroom Brit detained in Dubai over WhatsApp message - at the Detained in Dubai Newsroom

Woman faces “£100,000 fine and 2 years in prison” for WhatsApp message in Dubai

British woman in tears after Dubai police advise her she faces a “500,000 dirham fine, two years in prison and deportation”. Radha...

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Former advisor to RAK ruler Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi and CEO of RAKIA and RAK Ceramics, Dr Khater Massaad, has been the target of a years-long campaign that has seen repeated legal abuses in an "anything goes" approach to politically motivated judicial relief. Bangladesh court just ordered shares alleged to belong to Dr Massaad be transferred to RAKIA after UAE authorities provided them with judgments that had been fast tracked through Sheikh Saud's personal courts. Saud had attempted to extradite Dr Massaad from Saudi Arabia, but failed due to a lack of evidence. The ruler then withdrew civil claims from Saudi Arabia and immediately returned to his own personal courts where judgments against Dr Massaad could be guaranteed and immediately forwarded to Bangladesh with a diplomatic request for cooperation. Bangladesh courts automatically ordered in favour of the UAE with the Attorney General confirming Bangladesh responded to a "friendly nation's request" and they "hope their friends across the world would do the same". This was the first Dr Massaad had heard of the in-absentia court proceedings. He is now appealing the decision. "Ras al Khaimah has several times reported me to Interpol, but the notices have been removed, again and again", said Dr Massaad who has been fighting off frivolous claims for years. "They have tried to extradite me, but have failed. Their cases against me in Saudi Arabia have been dismissed. I am not on the run. I am not a fugitive. I have not committed any crime. The failed Interpol notices, the failed extradition requests, the failed civil cases have failed due to their merits. The simple fact is, there is no genuine evidence that I have committed crimes, because I have not. The only place where Sheikh Saud can get a guilty verdict is in his own personal courtroom. This is a politically motivated, greedy vendetta that is a disgrace to the UAE as a whole. Sheikh Saud is violating UAE law and doing a great disservice to the country. This latest Bangladesh case is a farce and an example of the Sheikh "jurisdiction shopping", trying to circumvent the law and further his agenda by deceiving the UAE's ally". Radha Stirling , CEO of Detained in Dubai and Due Process International , is appearing as an expert witness in the case. Stirling commented "I have been dealing with massive corruption coming out of the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah for years. Khater Massaad is one of several individuals targeted by the tyrant ruler, who embarked on a "purge" of foreign workers he considered a potential threat to his rule and who he thought may sympathise with his rival brother. He locked up those he could, and pursued the others relentlessly through Interpol and further attempts to enforce his own unevidenced legal judgments internationally. "The Bangladeshi courts have been provided with phony judgments issued by the ruler's court where Sheikh Saud has complete autonomy, based on the same phony evidence that Interpol and the Saudi Arabian courts have already thrown out. Most concerningly, the evidence bundle submitted by Ras Al Khaimah includes the forced confession of Jordanian lawyer Karam al Sadeq who is currently held by Sheikh Saud in prison. Sadeq has taken legal action for his unlawful detention and torture that led to his forced confession, the same confession being used as irrefutable evidence of Dr Massaad's guilt in Dhaka. Most international courts have recognised that corruption is rife in Ras al Khaimah, and have refused to enforce judgments from the Emirate. It is important Bangladesh understands that judgments provided by Ras Al Khaimah can not be taken at face value and any automatic enforcement of those judgments is extrajudicial abuse. Sheikh Saud has no case that can survive any legal system that scrutinises evidence and that's why he withdrew from Saudi, while avoiding Switzerland. He is jurisdiction shopping for a favour from Bangladesh, not due process". The United Kingdom and United States will not accept Ras Al Khaimah judgments for international enforcement. Right now though, there are several cases in the UK and US against Sheikh Saud and his agents for corruption, wrongful arrests, human rights violations and torture. "Investors and companies in Bangladesh need to know their assets will be safe from foreign dictators and their kangaroo courts" , added Ms Stirling. "Abu Dhabi has been encouraged to rein in Sheikh Saud's reckless lawlessness, while Swiss and foreign investors have been warned against investment in the UAE". Radha Stirling founded Detained in Dubai in 2008 and has since helped and advised more than 15,000 foreign nationals facing trouble in the UAE. Stirling is an expert witness, civil and criminal justice specialist, legislative, investment risk, business and policy advisor to the public and private sectors, speaker and host of the Gulf in Justice Podcast , covering the region in depth.

Bangladesh court ordered shares belonging to Dr Massaad be transferred to RAKIA

Former advisor to RAK ruler Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi and CEO of RAKIA and RAK Ceramics, Dr Khater Massaad, has been the target of a...

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