Gulf in Justice

Andy Slaughter, MP slams FCDO & calls for UK government action on the Gulf in Justice Podcast with Radha Stirling

Andy Slaughter discusses how human rights are being overlooked with UAE trade deals being prioritised by the British government.  “It’s something that should really worry the government very much.   It’s very difficult not to conclude that a blind eye is being turned because of the advantages.  It could be trade and commerce, it could be defence but that should not trump the human rights of the individual citizens”.

In a letter to Foreign Minister, Rt Hon. Dominic Raab, Slaughter and Baroness Whitaker, MP called for an increase in travel warnings and potential sanctions for human rights violations committed against British citizens like Albert Douglas.

Grandfather Albert Douglas was detained in Dubai over his son’s business debts, something that Radha Stirling, regional expert and host of Gulf in Justice, explains is very common in the UAE.  Detained in Dubai’s client Morag Koussa, a British national, was released last year after being held for her estranged husband’s bank debts.

Albert Douglas, in a recorded phone call from prison, testified as to human rights violations, torture and the deprivation of much needed heart medication.  Yet, the British government has not made the effort to request an inquiry into his unfair detention.

Stirling, an Expert Witness in extradition cases, confirms that British courts refuse to extradite to the UAE based on ‘the real risk of human rights violations, unfair trials and torture’.  “So why has the UK not reflected these High Court rulings in their travel warnings to British nationals?”.

Slaughter calls out the FCDO “If we have this good relationship with the UAE, why are we not using that relationship to put pressure on the UAE, especially with British nationals”.

What is clear from this episode of Gulf in Justice, is that the UK is increasingly dependent on the UAE as a trade partner and a significant investor into UK infrastructure and private business.  The UAE has paid its way to influence policy at the highest levels in the UK and the US which is putting individuals at increased and significant risk of grave violations.

André Gauthier is finally reunited with his family after years-long ordeal that left him scapegoated by members of Gold AE.

Gauthier arrived in Toronto on the 4th of May 2021 where he quarantined for three days before making the final trip home to Quebec. He made it home just in time for his wife’s birthday.

“It seemed as though Gauthier’s nightmare would never end when he first contacted us”, said Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai who represents the Gauthiers. “There were dozens of cases against him, some of which could not be appealed anymore. André had tried everything he could to resolve the cases legally, spending hundreds of thousand on lawyers, when he contacted us after a failed attempt to flee via the Omani border.

“It was certainly a complicated case. It involved Ponzi schemes, money laundering and powerful royals. The investors in Gold AE who were defrauded, were wrongfully told to take cases against André. This would provide enough distraction for the scamsters to leave the country. They ended up setting up new and similar scams in Canada, which we reported to authorities.

“Detained in Dubai and the Gauthier family would like to thank the members of the Canadian government whose support was instrumental in freeing André. Without diplomatic support, André would likely have died in prison. Canada has set an impressive example of how foreign governments can overcome significant adversity in the Middle East. Other countries should take note. With such a precedent setting diplomatic rescue, it will be difficult for another other foreign government to claim they ‘can’t get involved’.

Horrendous account of police beatings, human rights violations, degrading treatment and torture.  Albert Douglas talks straight from Dubai's notorious jail.

Detained in Dubai CEO, Radha Stirling, announced Peter Clark’s safe return to the United States.

“Nevada resident Peter Clark, from California, was finally freed from Dubai after his 2 month ordeal which cost him $50,000.  Peter was deported late Tuesday night on a flight via Doha to New York.”.

Before his departure, Peter interviewed with Stirling for her Gulf in Justice Podcast.  In the interview, Peter warns Americans to go to Miami instead.  “Do not go to Dubai.  You can get arrested for so many different things.”

Stirling said “It’s outrageous that Peter was held in Dubai for almost two months on charges pertaining to cannabis he had smoked legally in Las Vegas before travelling to Dubai.  Peter was a responsible traveller.  He made sure he left any pharmaceuticals at home, including Aspirin, just to be sure he didn’t have any delays or issues at customs.  Never did he imagine he could be arrested for cannabis smoked outside of the UAE.

“The UAE’s extraterritorial laws have landed a number of visitors in trouble.  People can be arrested for having alcohol in their system, even if served by the government’s own airline.  They can be arrested for hashish consumed legally, outside the country, that leaves residue trace elements in the bloodstream.  The UAE’s Cybercrime laws are far reaching and visitors can be arrested for violations that happened years ago, outside the country.  For example, an offensive or rude post on social media, or a rude private message on WhatsApp.

“Peter did nothing wrong.  He should never have been arrested and treated so badly.  As soon as we found out about the case, we appointed legal representatives and contacted US officials and members of the Senate.  Fortunately, we were able to resolve Peter’s case and get him home safe.  Others like Andy Neal spent more than a year in prison, fighting against frivolous charges before finally being exonerated.  Dubai authorities are messing with people’s lives.  They don’t seem to understand the impact a forced lengthy stay in Dubai has.  People can not afford to stay in a hotel for 2-6 months awaiting a court hearing.  They lose their jobs, their relationships and can even go bankrupt as a result.  The stress, anxiety and emotional toll is far underrated.   People in this situation don’t know if they are going to a foreign prison and whether their life is finished.  This is possibly the most stressful time they’ve had in their lives.  Loved ones are at home facing their worst nightmares too.

French national Reda Boulahdid tells Radha Stirling about blackmail ordeal by UAE customs officials in Ras Al Khaimah.

Mr. Boulahdid who is represented by UK legal group Detained in Dubai, says that his nightmare began with what he thought was a joke. A customs official visited his warehouse and demanded Boulahdid make him a partner in the company. Then, while he was out of the country, Ras Al Khaimah customs officials shut down his warehouse and authorities demanded he pay 20% of his business income to them.

No reasons were given for the closure, and no justification offered for why he should pay them a percentage of his profits. When he didn’t pay, a series of false allegations of commercial fraud were made against him and his car production factory was closed.

“The customs agents whom Mr. Boulahdid says tried to extort money from him, who held his wife against her will and who seized his personal and business-related paperwork and equipment without a warrant, should be subject to a criminal investigation, rather than Mr. Boulahdid being tried on charges brought by these men.”

BBC Interview with Radha Stirling

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”.

Former advisor to UAE ruler breaks silence:  

Khater Massaad on Sheikh Saud  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 spoke with expert Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, Due Process International and the host of the Gulf in Justice Podcast.

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.

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.

http://www.radhastirling.com http://www.detainedindubai.org http://www.khatermassaad.com http://www.gulfinjustince.news

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 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 enthralled 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?”

NY Court orders damages for man targeted by UAE Sheikh & his US agents because he “knew too much”

New York District Court orders damages in claim against agents of “corrupt UAE ruler” who “targeted him due to his intricate knowledge of illicit oil trade with Iran, contraband trade and loss of billions of dollars of state funds”.

Mr El Omari, in his claim against James Buchanan, Dechert lawyers, Andrew D Frank, Karv Communications, Intelligence Online et al., said these parties have “crossed the line, acting as propaganda agents” to a “corrupt foreign dictator in the Middle East, Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi”.

El Omari names Andrew D. Frank (a/k/a Andrew D. Solomon) and Amir Ali Handjani of Karv Communications, a PR agency as a defendant and Intelligence Online, a France based Intelligence focussed publication, alongside US lawyers Dechert and partner Neil Gerrard, who are also being sued in the US and UK for their role in torture and human rights violations against other victims in RAK.  Neil Gerrard stepped down from his partnership position at Dechert following English High Court claims launched this year.  James Buchanan, who acted as a “white knight” for Sheikh Saud, was named in the suit.

Full Press Release here

http://www.gulfinjustice.news

http://www.radhastirling.com

http://www.detainedindubai.org

As if James Dua-Wiafi and Stanley Kundishora’s widely reported ordeal wasn’t sufficient warning, a THIRD Londoner has just fallen prey to a rental car agency demanding £30,000 in return for his passport.  When will this end?

Like many other Brits escaping strict lockdown measures, 23 year old plumber Nico Paraskeva, from Wembley, flew to Dubai on the 5th of January for a mini-break in the sun, where cafes and venues remain open.

“After the stunning demand for £30,000 pounds, their friends began researching and came across the case of James and Stanley, who we also represented. It was a different rental car agency, but almost the same demand: Give us an extortionate amount of money or we will hold your passport and keep you hostage in our country.

“This is the second time in a matter of weeks that we have seen British citizens targeted by rental car companies in Dubai, illegally seizing their passports, and essentially holding them ransom.  Obviously, Nico is not responsible for paying rental costs for the car during its repair; rather than simply accepting for their costs to be covered, the company is trying to make a profit from a blameless accident that put someone in hospital, and threatening Nico with a potential civil case which could leave him stranded in the UAE indefinitely.

http://www.detainedindubai.org

http://www.radhastirling.com