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Strengthening alliances with the UAE and China while the UK remains preoccupied with Covid 'variants' and Xmas scandals. For two years, Covid has dominated the media and our daily lives, overwhelming police forces with the enforcement of lockdowns and mandated masks, stifling and delaying not only medical treatments for diseases like cancer, but side-lining other issues like foreign policy and human rights. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has focussed more on strengthening relationships with Middle Eastern countries for financial and enforcement reasons while failing to progress mutual concerted agreement on human rights violations against British citizens by these same allies. The Rt. Hon. Dominic Raab, MP advised Baroness Whitaker, MP in July that the United Kingdom had significant influence in the United Arab Emirates to promote the UK’s position on human rights, yet no visible progress has been made in this area. Parliamentary Debate - Should the FCDO increase travel warnings to British citizens heading to Dubai The UAE’s influence in the UK and the US has increased over the past ten years with significant investment into lobbying firms who target politicians, think tanks, policy influencers and prominent journalists. UAE influence a human rights catastrophe Over the past decade, the US swept Iran sanction violations under the rug despite the matter being raised to Secretary Clinton, and now there is serious concern over the deepening relationship between the UAE and China. British courts have ruled that Sheikha Shamsa Al Maktoum was kidnapped from British territory before the 2018 attack on a US flagged yacht in international waters and the kidnapping of Sheikha Latifa Al Maktoum along with five foreign nationals. We can see an escalating insolence coming from our ‘allies’ that poses a danger to security and to individuals. Next month, there is a Coroners Court Inquest into the death of Lee Bradley Brown, a British national who was killed in police custody ten years ago. Several witnesses confirmed his death was a result of police brutality and despite repeated requests, the UAE refused to supply CCTV evidence they ‘claim’ would have exonerated them. There have been no sanctions or consequences for the Iran sanction violations and so the UAE has felt further emboldened to commit heinous acts against British citizens like Matthew Hedges and Albert Douglas, a grandfather who is currently undergoing surgery to repair his broken bones after having been beaten by prison guards. Forced confessions, unfair trials, wrongful and lengthy detentions, human rights violations and torture remain widespread in the UAE. The British courts continue to decline extradition requests for this reason and the EU Parliament voted to boycott Dubai’s expo this year over human rights concerns. The lack of response from the US and UK emboldens not only the UAE but its neighbours and allies and this is likely to have contributed to Saudi Arabia’s extrajudicial execution of Khashoggi. If we do not establish a consensus on these issues, individual and national security remains at risk. The UAE’s relationship with Israel has been strengthened and while this has positive security elements, Israeli companies were implicated in supporting the UAE to spy on and hack dissidents, journalists, activists, lawyers and royals like Princess Haya and Sheikha Latifa. Detained in Dubai, and a number of their clients in litigation, were targeted by Israeli intelligence operatives while others were targeted with the infamous Israeli spyware, Pegasus. Despite these international criminal acts, the UAE was appointed to the presidency of international crime reporting agency, INTERPOL. The UAE has remained one of the top abusers of Interpol’s databases, along with China, Russia, Qatar, Saudi, Bahrain and Venezuela. It’s absurd that the UK and US allowed for this strategic ('pay to play') appointment. United Arab Emirates ‘Hacking Mystery’ - New York Times Report Senator Ted Cruz opposed China’s Interpol presidency bid but the UAE’s appointment is just as ludicrous. Numerous British and American citizens have been unfairly detained abroad and subjected to extradition proceedings made by the UAE for the sole purpose of harassing and extorting individuals. It is undemocratic to then appoint that same abuser to Interpol’s leadership. The UK has made a number of UAE and Qatar initiated arrests which have cost the taxpayer millions of pounds only to later discover that the requests violated Interpol protocols, but the UK has remained silent over the Interpol presidency. UAE General accused of torture now head of Interpol While Covid continues to dominate the media, authoritarian regimes like China and the UAE are using the opportunity to increase their mutual cooperation to the point where Abu Dhabi ports are being bought up by the Chinese, arousing concern from the US that they are being used for counter espionage purposes and secret prisons. And on an individual basis, the unfair detention of US and UK prisoners are going ignored by the respective foreign affairs departments. Detainee says China has secret jail in Dubai, holds Uyghurs A number of MP’s have taken on this issue, seeking increased travel warnings and even sanctions against the UAE for human rights violations and a three hour parliamentary debate has taken place today, initiated by a Scottish MP after she was appalled over the lack of care and diplomatic intervention provided by the FCDO. Numerous victims of unfair detention and human rights violations in the UAE have supported the endeavour. Famous cases like that of Billy Barclay, Jamie Harron and Laleh Shahravesh have welcomed the debate and those who remain in prison like Billy Hood and Albert Douglas remain hopeful the Foreign Office will support citizens who have become victims of injustice and human rights violations. ABOUT | Radha Stirling 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/6KH20nw... Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/detainedindubai Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/detainedindu... YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/detainedindubai Email: info@detainedindubai.org

Radha Stirling , Interpol expert and head human rights group Detained in Dubai , said the election was a 'near fatal blow to Interpol's credibility'. She added : 'It is outrageous that an institution originally founded to uphold justice and due pro cess has chosen as its president a man implicated in serious crimes from a country that is renowned for exploiting Interpol's role as a means to extort and intimate innocent people . 'She said the UAE had been using Interpol's ' red notices ' in effect, international wanted notices - to crack down on political opposition, using them as an instrument to ' persecute foreigners, dissidents, journalists and academics'. She accused Interpol of ' empowering authoritarian regimes around the globe ' by allowing this . A report by retired judge Sir David Calvert - Smith earlier this year also concluded that the UAE had 'hijacked' the red notices to put pressure on opponents and critics. The ex-director of public prosecutions also highlighted #UAE funding of Interpol , saying there was 'coherent evidence that the UAE is seeking to influence 'the agency'. Questioned about the general yesterday, Interpol The ex - director of public prosecutions also high lighted UAE funding of #Interpol, saying there was 'coherent evidence that the UAE is seeking to influence 'the agency'. Questioned about the general yesterday , Interpol secretary general Jurgen Stock said the agency did not get involved in politics . 'I will not stop my fight for justice'. Full Daily Mail Article Here: #Dubai #InterpolAbuse #RadhaStirling #DetainedinDubai #IPEXReform #IPEX

While the position is largely ceremonial, Al-Raisi’s election has raised serious concerns among legal experts and activists globally. Al-Raisi himself has faced allegations of “torture and barbarism”, specifically in connection to the wrongful detentions of British academic Matthew Hedges and Emirati democracy advocate Ahmed Mansour. His candidacy was opposed within the organisation, in the European Parliament, and among US politicians. Along with China, Russia, Turkey, Egypt and Qatar, the UAE has been identified as a habitual abuser of the Interpol database and Red Notice system. Many view Al-Raisi’s election as a leap backwards for the organisation, likely influenced by the UAE’s significant contribution to Interpol’s funding; and the decision has further deteriorated the organisation’s reputation and legitimacy. The King of Interpol Abuse International extradition expert, Radha Stirling, founder and CEO of Due Process International, IPEX Reform and Detained in Dubai, has been the leading voice for Interpol reform; today Stirling issued a stark warning that Al-Raisi’s election sends a chilling signal to the world that Interpol has become an overt collaborator with the worst abusers of their own mechanisms: "Interpol’s election of General Ahmed Nasser Al-Raisi today has dealt a severe setback to those of us who have been pushing for reforms and greater transparency in the international policing organisation, and represents an unfortunate and near-fatal blow to Interpol’s credibility. Not only is General Al-Raisi himself accused of complicity in torture and grave human rights violations, but the United Arab Emirates has established itself as one of the most prolific abusers of the Interpol system. Detained in Dubai statement on pardon of Matthew Hedges, Brit academic jailed for life for "spying" The UAE has used Interpol Red Notices essentially as an instrument for de facto expansion of their jurisdiction to persecute foreigners, most often over business disputes and fabricated charges which would be rejected by almost any court in the developed world. Over the past decade, Interpol has increasingly empowered authoritarian regimes around the globe to pursue political dissidents, journalists, and academics, as well as business people and investors; the election of Al-Raisi signals that the organisation has no intention of correcting this trajectory, but rather of accelerating in the direction of further abuse. It is outrageous that an institution originally founded to uphold justice and due process has chosen as its president a man implicated in serious crimes from a country that is renowned for exploiting Interpol’s role as a means to extort and intimidate innocent people, and a country which itself has consistently proven to have a corrupt legal system.” IPEXReform

Press Release: Senator Cruz called on to oppose General Raisi Interpol Presidency IPEX (Interpol & Extradition) Reform has called on Senator Ted Cruz to oppose both China and the UAE’s bid for presidency of international crime reporting agency Interpol. The Texas Senator opposed China’s bid for the presidency saying that their appointment could put thousands of Chinese political dissidents at risk. In a letter to Senator Cruz, the CEO of IPEX, Detained in Dubai and Due Process International, Radha Stirling, explained that the UAE and China have formed a concerning alliance that could put thousands at significant risk of arbitrary detention and human rights violations. Stirling said “the UAE's relationship with China has grown significantly to the point where the UAE has reportedly allowed "secret" prisons for those wanted by China. These prisons are extrajudicial and show a concerning alliance between the countries. The UAE's appointment to leadership within Interpol would be, I submit, Chinese influenced by proxy. As an expert witness in extradition cases and someone who has removed dozens of red notices over more than a decade, I know that: 1. The UAE is one of the biggest abusers of their Interpol membership, issuing frivolous reports against individuals for matters ranging from small credit card debts to politically motivated notices for the purpose of harassment, extortion and more; 2. Many such notices have been issued unfairly against Americans, causing great distress and resulting in lengthy and unfair detention, the loss of income, reputation, families and personal pain. 3. The US, UK and most western nations refuse to extradite to the UAE based on the 'real risk of unfair trials, discrimination, human rights violations and torture', and it is quite a mockery to appoint the UAE as the head of an organisation when they are a great abuser of their membership already, and when most countries decline extradition requests made via the Interpol system. 4. The UAE has acted belligerently and unlawfully, engaging in cybercrimes and hacking against US nationals including myself, my American clients, lawyers, journalists, human rights activists, royals and politicians. 5. The British courts recently confirmed the UAE had kidnapped a woman from British soil and attacked a US yacht in international waters, kidnapping all onboard and forcing them into the UAE's jurisdiction. This attack included a US citizen. 6. The UAE is subject to multiple UN complaints for torture and human rights violations and there is an Inquest at the Coroners Court in England scheduled for January after a British citizen was subjected to police brutality in Dubai that caused his death. I urge you to oppose not only China's proposed leadership with Interpol, but the UAE's too and am happy to provide numerous examples of the UAE's abuse towards US and other citizens and their contempt for the rules of their membership with Interpol.” https://www.ipexreform.com/

Interpol and UAE both under fire for corrupt practices and human rights abuses. Interpol, extradition and UAE expert, Radha Stirling issued a statement today: “It’s astonishing that the UAE’s Major General Ahmed Naser Al Raisi has made a bid for the Presidency of Interpol, given that they are one of the most prolific abusers of their membership. It was in fact, the UAE, that introduced me to ‘Interpol Abuse’ and as I write this, I have just completed yet another red notice removal petition. Over the past decade, I have seen first hand, the consequences for victims of the Emirates’ ongoing abuse. I have seen lives ruined, families torn apart, victims locked up in devastating third world conditions, reputations damaged, life savings lost and severe PTSD. Radha Stirling on the Pressing Case for Interpol Reform “Every time Interpol deletes a red notice for my clients, they are made aware that the notice should never have been issued in the first place but there have been no consequences for the UAE. The lack of accountability has clearly emboldened the UAE to further violate their membership rules and continue to report victims to Interpol without due process. “We have seen people arrested all over the world for the most ridiculous of alleged ‘crimes’. A British airline hostess was surrounded by armed policemen at a restaurant in Rome over an alleged 5,000 euro credit card debt. Robert Urwin spent over a year in prison in Ukraine over a HSBC bounced cheque, while others have been wrongfully reported for the purpose of harassment and extortion. We saw US national Najib Khoury reported by Hilton hotel tycoon Khalaf Al Habtoor because Habtoor was ‘offended’ when Mr Khoury informed him that one of his staff was getting mixed up with drugs. Captain Hervé Jaubert was misplaced on Interpol’s database by vindictive ruler Sheikh Mohammed who reported him for kidnapping Princess Latifa, despite the whole world knowing she left voluntarily. I have removed dozens of abusive notices for clients over the past decade but the damage each notice does to individuals is severe. “It is time Interpol raised their standards. The mysterious crime reporting organisation is under the spotlight with suggestions for improvements and increased accountability. It is not acceptable that Interpol claims “sovereign immunity” in court. It is an unsustainable situation where Interpol can instantly cause someone to lose their freedom but can not be claimed against if they are negligent. Where victims can not sue Interpol, there is limited incentive to change. UAE Interpol Abuse Increased, Not Ceased - Emirates Expanding Use of Interpol as Retaliatory Tactic “Not only is the UAE a repeat abuser of its membership with Interpol, but they are also known for significant and ever increasing human rights abuses. Most courts will not even extradite to the UAE based on ‘the real risk of discrimination, unfair trials, wrongful detention, human rights violations and torture”. It is laughable that a country whose own Interpol Red Notices are not respected by allied nations should think they are in any position to lead Interpol itself. UAE bank’s Interpol Abuse raised at UK Parliament after Brit’s 12 month long ordeal “I hold grave concerns about the UAE and their own lawlessness. They have recently violated international law in attacking a US flagged yacht at sea and kidnapping all foreign nationals onboard. They have repeatedly used spyware and intelligence agencies against lawyers, advocates, journalists, human rights activists and legal opponents and can not be trusted with unrestricted access to Interpol’s entire operation. The King of Interpol Abuse “And while Interpol has a history of corruption, no amount of UAE ‘donations’ should sway the organisation to damage its already tarnished reputation. The former Chinese president disappeared in a controversial arrest in his own country and Al Raisi would only serve to help us push for legal accountability.” Radha Stirling previously wrote on Al Raisi’s potential appointment: Interpol “pawns to Arab nations” as Abu Dhabi bids for presidency. Stirling calls for reform. About Radha Stirling: Radha Stirling is a leading human rights advocate, crisis manager and policy consultant, focusing on the UAE and the wider Middle East. She is the founder and CEO of British based organisation Detained in Dubai (which have helped almost twenty thousand victims of injustice over the past 13+ years), Due Process International and IPEX (Interpol and Extradition) Reform. Stirling also hosts the Gulf in Justice Podcast. In 2010, Ms Stirling expanded her work beyond the UAE, dealing with both civil and criminal cases internationally. She has provided expert witness testimony in several high profile extradition and arbitration cases, while lobbying for Interpol reform. About IPEX Reform: Established by Radha Stirling, founder and CEO of Detained in Dubai, and a leading voice against Interpol abuse, Interpol and Extradition Reform (IPEX) is a comprehensive initiative to address the widespread and multilayered problems with the current framework of the extradition process, including the many flaws in Interpol itself as an organisation. Radha Stirling has successfully lobbied Australian Parliament to include human rights provisions in their extradition treaty with the UAE, appeared for the defence as an expert witness in several high profile extradition cases and has worked tirelessly to remove wrongfully listed clients from Interpol’s database. She has led the call for greater Interpol transparency and reforms to end abuse by an emerging “authoritarian nexus” which misuses the Interpol Red Notice system to circumvent due process. IPEX demands that Interpol implement practical measures to ensure the protection of refugees from politically motivated malicious extradition requests, including the establishment of data sharing agreements with the UNHCR and national governments so that individuals who have been granted asylum will not be put at risk of extradition to the countries from which they have fled. This proposal is currently supported by prominent barristers in the United Kingdom, human rights organisations, and activists. Furthermore, IPEX suggests core reforms to state-to-state extradition requests and Interpol protocols to ensure these processes will not be used for political persecution, extortion of debtors, and in an attempt to circumvent international standards of due process by instituting a global criteria for the consideration of extradition requests which include human rights concerns and the integrity of national legal systems. Home | IPEX Reform

Published December 27th, 2018 Al Bawaba Hayder al-Shakarchi Update: On 11th February the New York Times and others reported that a Thai court had dropped the extradiction case against Hakeem. The player is now free to return to Australia. Exactly one month ago, Hakeem Al-Araibi, a professional football player in Australia, was wrongfully detained in Thailand at the hands of Bahrain through an Interpol Red Notice. Once Bahrain had the Notice issued, Araibi was immediately arrested upon arrival at Thailand in Bangkok Airport while on vacation with his wife for their honeymoon. Since 2012, Araibi has been under constant threat from his homeland after he was arrested by Bahraini authorities due to the political activities of his brother during the Arab Spring protests. Like many others before him, Araibi stated that he was also subjected to torture during his time in jail in the country. After being released, Araibi immediately sought asylum in Australia. Australian immigration authorities understood that Araibi would face execution if sent back to Bahrain. Thus, Australia automatically ruled out any possibility of extradition and Araibi was officially granted political asylum in the country in 2014. Hence, the dilemma of the Bahraini refugee and his recent detainment has raised several significant questions regarding Interpol, as it has clearly backed numerous countries that have been documented for human rights abuse cases. Will Interpol continue to aid these countries in seeking ‘wanted’ individuals, even when abuse precludes the possibility of extradition in most countries? To what extent should these countries be allowed to utilize Interpol for their own agendas? Most importantly, what is Interpol’s agenda? Radha Stirling, an international extradition expert and CEO of Detained in Dubai, commented that “in 2015, Interpol announced that they would not consider any listing request pertaining to an asylum seeker or refugee requested by the country from which they had fled. Thus, Bahrain’s request for a Red Notice against Araibi should have been initially rejected. It is Interpol’s responsibility to ensure that their rules are adhered to, especially regarding Red and Blue Notices. Araibi is a refugee who was granted asylum by Australia. According to Interpol’s internal protocols, he should have been immune from a Red Notice request by Bahrain.” Countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates constantly misuse Interpol as a means for debt collection, even though private financial disputes fall beyond Interpol’s mandate. Gulf countries use the threat of a Red Notice to extort debtors often, even when they have been making payments or negotiating with creditors. The GCC continues to attempt and force them to capitulate with the demands of local business partners under the threat of an Interpol listing. When individuals apply for removal of such listings, they are usually granted on the grounds that they do not meet Interpol’s criteria. According to Stirling, “Interpol is clearly in urgent need of reform, and Australia should lead the call. Why has Interpol failed to recognize Australia’s granting of asylum to Abaidi, an act which should have instantly nullified Bahrain’s request for a Red Notice? There needs to be an end to the misuse of the Interpol system.” She added, “Countries with documented gross human rights violations; countries to which extradition is likely to result in an individual’s torture or death; should be altogether barred from recourse to Interpol. There needs to be international cooperation to implement human rights provisions in the extradition procedures of any nation. “In the case of Araibi, as in so many others, what countries like Bahrain rely on is ‘jurisdiction shopping.’ They list an individual on Interpol, knowing that most developed nations would never entertain the possibility of extradition, and just wait for that person to cross the border into a nation with a dismissive view on human rights.” This could be why Araibi was not stopped at the airport in Australia, but in Thailand. Thus, it would appear that Bahrain had waited to list Araibi on Interpol until it knew that he would be traveling to Thailand on his honeymoon. By the time that the Interpol Red Notice against Araibi was lifted, Thai authorities claimed that it did not matter since they already had an arrest and extradition request for Araibi from Bahrain. “The Red Notice against Araibi was illegitimate according to Interpol’s own rules. Thailand has not extradition treaty with Bahrain, and Araibi is in grave danger of torture or death if he is sent to Bahrain. The Australian government has good relations with Thailand, but if their extradition procedures make no consideration of human rights concerns, the government needs to push for reforms in this area and the case of Araibi presents an urgent need for change; otherwise Australians cannot feel secure traveling to Thailand,” Stirling explained. On 11 December, Araibi’s detention was extended for another sixty days by a Bangkok court. "I don't want to go back to Bahrain - I want to go back to Australia. I didn't do anything in Bahrain. I'm a refugee in Australia," Araibi said as he exited the courtroom. "If I am deported to Bahrain, don't forget me, and if once I'm there you hear me saying things, don't believe me," Araibi posted on Facebook. He explained that he knew what would happen to him if he was to be sent back to Bahrain: “I will be tortured to confess things that I have never done." Applying for removal of a Notice which was clearly politically-motivated can take months, only to have Interpol eventually concede that the listing should never have occurred. It is time for the international community to demand Interpol reform before more lives are needlessly placed in jeopardy.

The four members were hosted by an equestrian club with close ties to the state’s ruling family, whose record on human rights has been sharply criticised by campaign groups. The ‘freebies’ were taken up during the five-day Qatar Goodwood Festival, which is regarded as one of the pinnacles of the flat-racing season, in the last week of July 2021. The MPs were hosted by Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, part of the wealthy Gulf state’s Ministry of Sport and Culture, and its UK embassy at the event in West Sussex. MPs enjoyed thousands of pounds worth of hospitality from Qatar during the ‘Glorious Goodwood’ festival of horse racing. They enjoyed hospitality, accommodation and dinners, according to the official register of members’ financial interests. One of the guests, Laurence Robertson, who represents Tewkesbury, declared hosting amounting to £1,650 for himself and his wife between Wednesday, July 28 and the following day. The couple enjoyed hospitality at the racecourse and at the estate’s country house and four-star hotel. The other MPs hosted were Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, Nigel Evans and Mark Menzies. The details have emerged after David Beckham was criticised for becoming the face of Qatar’s World Cup 2022 in a reported £150 million deal. Qatar has been promoting its image ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2022. Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell accused the state of ‘sportswashing’, where an entity uses major events to improve its image. Mr Tatchell said: ‘Qatar seems to be using freebies as a way to soften up MPs and win them over in advance of the World Cup. It looks like a PR bid to minimise criticism over its poor human rights record. ‘I’m shocked that these MPs were willing to accept the hospitality of a dictatorship. This is the latest example of sportswashing by Qatar. ‘It is using sport to boost its reputation and distract attention from its abuse of women, LGBT people and migrant workers.’ Beckham drew flak last month after it was reported that he has become the face of the oil-rich state’s World Cup promotion. The former England skipper is said to have received assurances that fans will be allowed to display rainbow flags and women’s rights are improving in a country where same-sex relations are illegal. Nigel Evans was among four MPs hosted at the Qatar Goodwood Festival by the state’s equestrian club. House of Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle was among MPs who enjoyed hospitality courtesy of Qatar. Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Doha and Due Process International, said: ‘Qatar has invested significant funds into lobbying efforts aimed at the UK and into marketing the upcoming FIFA 2022. ‘Funds have been thrown at celebrities like David Beckham, media houses, academics and politicians. Qatar overall has been resilient to criticism over the years and that’s largely due to their economic contributions, but MPs, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and investors need to ensure they do not allow Qatar to whitewash their human rights record. ‘ Sir Lindsay, member for Chorley, was given guest passes for two people valued at £1,040, including hospitality, accommodation and dinner. Mr Evans, who represents Ribble Valley, and Mr Menzies, member for Fylde, received the same perks to the value of £700 each. The interests were all declared in the category of ‘gifts and benefits from outside the UK’. The club, which has its base at the state’s embassy in London, was established in the 1960s to develop Arabian horse racing and is described as a ‘government organisation’ on its Facebook page. The festival Qatar sponsors is known as ‘Glorious Goodwood’ and includes a ladies’ day and the King George Day between July 27 and July 31. Mr Evans and Mr Menzies also declared a trip to Qatar in October 2021, donated by the state’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as part of their work on the British-Qatar All-Party Parliamentary Group. The purpose was to meet ministers and officials to ‘discuss Qatar’s humanitarian and political response to the Afghanistan crisis, preparations for the world cup, worker’s rights reform and bilateral relations’. MPs financial interests have come under sharp focus in recent days, with a three-hour emergency debate about standards in the House of Commons on Monday. There is no suggestion that any of the MPs receiving hospitality from Qatar broke any rules. A spokeswoman for Sir Lindsay said: ‘All hospitality is declared in full and on time to the Registrar of Members’ Interests in accordance with the rules.’ Metro.co.uk has approached Mr Evans, Mr Menzies and Mr Robertson for comment.

"The relentless energy of the campaigners at Detained in Dubai continues to amaze as they take on one case of alleged abuse and miscarriage of justice after another. The organisation’s attention is now also engaged in countering the misuse of the Interpol notice system, including allegedly by banks such as HSBC Bank Middle East. Radha Stirling, the group’s chief executive, seems fairly blasé about the risks involved challenging powerful state bodies. “When you deal with clients whose lives are in crisis, often devastating situations; wrongly jailed, lost jobs, income, reputation, and with their families in a state of traumatic upheaval, you tend to focus on the risks and dangers they are dealing with rather than any risks involved with helping them,” she says." #Interpol #InterpolAbuse #InterpolRedNotice #RadhaStirling IPEX - Interpol & Extradition Reform & Defence Experts. Full article available at The Times

American woman's life has been torn apart by Qatar's abuse of the Interpol Red Notice system, raising serious human rights concerns. New Jersey international relations professional Nancy Samir never imagined that accepting an incredible offer to work for the Qatar Foundation would have ended as it did. 50 year old Nancy wound up hopeless, broke, stranded and separated from her children and parents and with the trauma ultimately resulting in her father’s death. Nancy was on her way to attend a job interview in the UAE that she thought would help her get her life back on track and even allow her to pay off her loan. Little did she know that it would be the start of one of the most traumatic experiences of her life. The mother of two grew up in New Jersey and pursued a graduate degree at a prestigious private university. She held many impressive positions in New York & Washington DC with a number of different international foundations & diplomatic missions. From a young age, Nancy travelled often around the world visiting different orphanages and refugee camps and was an active humanitarian and published many articles about the empowerment of women and youth. Listen to Nancy in an emotional episode of the Gulf in Justice Podcast with Radha Stirling: Deciding to develop her skills further, Nancy accepted a senior research position at one of the universities in Doha under the Qatar Foundation umbrella. In her exciting new role, Nancy worked directly with a former US Ambassador and advisor to Presidents Nixon and Reagan. Having settled into life in Doha and with her new employment, she was aggressively pursued by Qatar National Bank (QNB) and agreed to take out a loan to buy a car. The bank asked her to sign a ‘security cheque for the total amount of the loan. The justification for this bizarre practice is to prevent customers from defrauding the bank. If they default on a payment or flee the country, the bank will present the cheque. If it bounces, a criminal charge will be made. Nancy was very concerned but the bank employee assured her that it was standard practice in the Middle East and she had a steady job. Stirling: ‘Unprecedented aggression by Qatar banks against debtors, Interpol abuse is alarming Back at the office though, Nancy’s boss was writing on topics that were critical of the Muslim Brotherhood which was sensitive to the government of Qatar and so the decision was made by the management of that university to make both Nancy and her boss redundant, by explaining that the center where they both worked was going to be closed and that their possitions no longer existed as a result of the restructuring. Nancy was devastated considering that her employment contract listed an indefinite term of employment. Upon losing her secure employment unexpectedly, Nancy fire sold the car, losing much of its value. This left her with a bank debt, no car and no job. In no time at all, QNB presented the cheque which naturally bounced. They phoned her, pressuring her, telling her to turn herself into the police or prove that she had already secured another job. Nancy had managed to find a short term 6 month contract and appease the bank. Upon presenting the bank with proof of that new Kafeel or employment sponsor, they dropped the case but had her sign a new cheque. Nancy kept up her payments and was given leave to visit her family in the US. During her holiday, her new company notified her that the contract was not going to be renewed citing that Nancy was overqualified for the position. Nancy called and emailed QNB reassuring them that she would seek a new job in Qatar but she was told by the bank or collections agent, “No no no, if you come to Qatar, you’re going to be arrested at the airport because we’ve already filed a case against you in the prosecutor's office and there is a warrant for your arrest”. They began to harass her regularly and even threatened by email that they would issue an Interpol red notice in her name. Nancy didn’t take them seriously because her friends who worked at Qatari banks reassured her that there was no risk, “You owe around $50,000, why would any bank issue an Interpol red notice for that?” Nancy continued seeking alternative employment. Her luck seemed to change when she managed to land an interview with a government agency in Abu Dhabi. “I was so excited”, recalls Nancy, “in my mind I said, now I can make enough to pay back my loan.” On arrival though, Nancy was immediately arrested. “I was locked in an interrogation room for some time, handcuffed, then taken in a white car to CID, to the Interpol office. Most of the Emiratis that I dealt with were very compassionate and nice to me, but because of Qatar’s Interpol red notice against me, I had to be processed like a criminal. Walking outside of the airport in handcuffs was the most humiliating time of my life. When I arrived at the next holding room at a CID building, they told me there would be no extradition because there are currently no diplomatic relations between the two countries, but that I had to wait for a while to see what the Ministry of Interior was going to do with me. It was the scariest moment, not knowing what was going to happen next. ​Expats shocked Qatar & UAE banks are getting away with using INTERPOL as debt collector “They didn’t keep me in jail, they told me to go home and come back in the morning but they kept my US passport. I stayed in the UAE for about three weeks. I was losing my mind, I was suicidal. I went to the US Embassy, they wouldn’t help me. They wouldn’t even let me into the Embassy or allow me to speak to anyone. They just offered to provide me with a list of lawyers, reminding me that they didn't recommend any of them and they would not provide any financial or other support’. “I found myself in a situation where I didn’t know what was going to happen. I was starting to lose it, big time and then my father, when he heard what happened, had a stroke. My father’s condition started to deteriorate in 2017, he then contracted covid and sadly, passed away June of 2020”. “What I endured, after losing my job through no fault of my own and then being treated like a criminal, or even worse than criminals because I think some criminals don’t get the same treatment was a direct result of the inhumane way that QNB treats their customers. “When I was in Qatar, I attended so many human rights meetings. I actually believed Qatar stood for human rights, but when I tried to contact those same human rights organizations to ask them to advocate for me they ignored me completely. “Qatar reminds me of the Eagles song, “Hotel California”. In the beginning you think that you are in heaven but sooner than later you find yourself in the deepest pits of Hell”. “I managed to survive divorce, death of loved ones, disability and being a single mom, but what QNB put me through sucked the life out of me, and broke me. I believe that the post-traumatic stress that I have faced as a result of this experience has changed my outlook on life. I will never be the same.” A British national, John Nicholas was also wrongfully listed on Qatar's Interpol Red Notice database by Qatar National Bank for a small bank loan which Mr Nicholas had almost entirely discharged by the time he left Qatar. QNB added atrocious charges to try to escalate the claiming amount beyond Interpol's minimum 15,000 Euro threshold for a Red Notice. “QNB and other Qatar based banks have been repeat abusers of Interpol’s Red Notice database,” said Radha Stirling, an expert witness, leading voice in the fight against ‘Interpol Abuse’ and founder of IPEX (Interpol & Extradition) Reform. “It’s absurd that Qatar has been permitted by Interpol to use their database as a means to collect bank and credit card debts from foreign nationals. Banks have pressured Qatari law enforcement to report even small debtors to Interpol, with a view to having them detained abroad and pressured to discharge credit cards and loans. This is clearly against INTERPOL’s charter and a violation of their membership agreement but Interpol would rather accept the donations from Middle Eastern countries and remain silent, than to punish them for abusing Interpol’s power and reputation. “Alan Stevenson was detained in Prague on a frivolous notice and David Blackhouse was pulled from his car in Britain as though he were an international fugitive. Radha Stirling: Alan Stevenson catalyst for Interpol reform and human rights compliance “Interpol has become a pay to play organisation, open to manipulation and abuse by countries with poor human rights records. Countries like the UAE, Saudi, Qatar, Bahrain, Iran, Turkey, Russia, Egypt and China have been able to use the crime tool for their own personal vendettas. Brit arrested in Spain over Qatar Interpol warrant “Countries like Qatar and the UAE, have used Interpol’s reach to extend their jurisdiction beyond their borders, causing the arrest, detention and prosecution abroad of many innocent victims. Innocent individuals have been listed on Interpol, arrested, detained and tried for “crimes'' that don’t even meet Interpol’s minimum reporting criteria. Journalists, activists, businessmen and credit card debtors have been locked up in Western nations at the mere request of countries who repeatedly take advantage of their membership with Interpol. Dubai banks’ use of Interpol to extradite debtors from outside the country. “We have managed to remove numerous Qatar issued arrest warrants for violating Interpol’s charter and it’s certainly time that Interpol themselves were legally held to account. “Nancy has suffered greatly as a result of the wrongful red notice. It is time US policy makers review Interpol’s sovereign immunity and promote the accountability of such powerful organisations. Nancy’s name will be removed from Interpol’s database but she will not be compensated, she will not get an apology, and this will happen again and again until powerful countries recognise the damage a frivolous notice can cause”. Further media and related resources: Radha Stirling - Inspiring Leader 2021 Magazine Feature Home | IPEX Reform

Afghanistan soldier with PTSD jailed in Abu Dhabi, reveals hellish prison conditions A 44 year old PTSD sufferer and Afghanistan veteran (Army & Navy) has been detained in Dubai over a bank debt he was working to repay. The war survivor accepted a UAE government contract in 2012 following his role in Afghanistan. He relocated, settled in and like any new expat will experience, he was aggressively hounded by local bank ADCB, he decided to accept a loan to buy a property there. The father of three and grandfather, Shannon Johnston, originally from West Virginia before moving to Alabama, was unexpectedly diagnosed with a neurological issue that caused him to urgently need to return to the US for specialist medical care. This left him in default and the bank immediately, as is standard, presented the security cheque provided by him when taking out the loan. “It is standard practice in the UAE for banks to request a blank cheque as security against a loan”, said Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai and Due Process International, who has been dealing with these cases for almost a decade and a half. “In the event of any default, the bank will present the cheque and if it bounces, it becomes a criminal offence, regardless of the circumstances”. Shannon was not aware of this. Following extensive medical treatment, Shannon had to return quickly to work. He had tried to appease the bank, letting them know his situation and that he was getting a new job and would resume payments shortly. He accepted a new role with Lockheed Martin, a defense corporation in Huntsville which required him to travel overseas. “Last year, dad was sent to the Philippines as part of his job. We thought we’d see him again quickly and had no idea what was about to happen”, Shannon’s 22 year old daughter Jasmyn recalled. “There was no heads up. We didn’t know this was possible”. His flight to the Philippines had an unfortunate transit stop in Dubai. Shannon was taken from the plane with all of his belongings, unaware that he was about to end up in a Middle Eastern jail, notorious for human rights abuses. He was handcuffed and shackled and transferred to Dubai prison where he was told he was facing criminal charges over a bank loan he had taken in good faith. After surviving extreme and deadly situations abroad, living with PTSD and undergoing medical treatment, he was broken to learn that as he was getting his life back together, it was all going horribly wrong. War hero Andy Neal jailed in Abu Dhabi finally returns home after being EXONERATED of drugs charges Dubai arranged for him to be transferred to Abu Dhabi Central Jail, a prison that has seen numerous foreigners complain of the horrendous conditions, including British veteran Andy Neal who was detained unfairly for over a year. Artur Ligeska, a Polish national wrote a whole book about the kind of abuse and torture he suffered in the same facility. Ms Stirling, who has helped many Abu Dubai detainees described the prison as “inhumane, overcrowded and seriously risky to detainees who face violence and human rights violations within the system”. Jasmyn said “the judicial system is completely inadequate. It’s in shambles. They haven’t given him enough food. He has no hygiene products. His shampoo and glasses were taken by prison guards. He’s stuck in very poor, overcrowded conditions infested with insects and rodents. It’s disgusting. He can hardly ever use the phone and when he does, he has to pay for it. He hasn’t been allowed any daylight or exercise and he has no bedding or sleeping items. He is locked in a cell at night and not given any water. This is a desert prison and they don’t even give them water overnight. He’s suffered dehydration on a regular basis. He’s had no access to his medication and has been given no medical treatment. The list goes on. “The US Embassy has done nothing either. This is a veteran who has served his country and he is just discarded like nothing over a bank debt? I can’t fathom how the US government can turn its back on him. He’s a Chistian and he’s not allowed to practice his religion, he has nothing to keep his mental wellbeing which is important to him after his past trauma. Americans detained in Dubai - A by-product of UAE lobbying? “There was a fight in the prison and the people involved were handcuffed to the cell bars, with their hands above their head and their feet pushed into the bars so that they could not stand”. Stirling added “it is completely unacceptable that the UAE, a supposed ally of the United States, is locking up American citizens over such trivial and frivolous matters that would be considered civil issues in the States. They are then being subjected to outrageous and demoralising treatment. Christian, Shannon’s 19 year old son, has expressed his anger at America’s lack of diplomatic support for his father. “We are being told by the US government that they cannot intervene in a foreign legal system but now we have learned this is not true. They will not even do welfare checks on my dad and this is an insult. We are going to be contacting everyone who can help, Senators, Congress people & the US State Department, making sure we don’t just accept this kind of treatment. It’s not right”. Ms Stirling confirmed “We are not asking the US to intervene in a legal system, but we are certainly asking them to diplomatically intervene in a situation of injustice where a military man has been unfairly detained over a bank debt. The US government has intervened in the past with American David Oliver, Peter Clark, Danielle Jeffries and others and managed to get them free. American lecturer is being 'held hostage' in Dubai | Daily Mail Online “The UAE has on many occasions deceived the public into believing they have no instated working bankruptcy laws, that they have removed prison sentences for bounced cheques and that they will take the circumstances surrounding the cheques into account. None of this is true. Since our inception in 2008, bank debts, credit card debts, utility bills and bounced cheques have been the cause of thousands of detentions. Some people never make it out of prison and if they do, a corresponding civil case will put them right back in jail. If they are outside of the country, they will likely be reported as an Interpol Red Notice fugitive alongside drug lords and murderers, despite this breaking Interpol’s own rules. “The UAE has invested significant money into legal and illegal lobbying into Washington DC and into the private sector, as well as major marketing endeavours that cover up the significant but regular human rights violations. The UAE Expo has just begun with the goal of attracting even more investors, skilled labourers or shall we call them, future victims? The European Parliament this month boycotted the expo based on human rights concerns and the treatment of women but what is the United States going to do? The truth about leaving a debt behind in Dubai. “We will certainly be raising this case and others in DC and in English Parliament, as well as filing policy recommendations to the US with these regular occurrences in mind. If the UAE is going to make a substantial effort to attract foreigners and foreign business, they must start treating foreigners fairly.” Shannon’s family are committed to bringing him home and raising this case within military and government circles but if their efforts fall on deaf ears, Shannon will never be able to leave the UAE, even if released from prison. In the UAE, debtors are not allowed to leave the country but are not allowed to work either, leaving them in an endless cycle which often leads to homelessness as in the case of US national, David Oliver.

The man’s voice was shaking on the telephone, “I’ve just been held at the airport, they say it is on an Interpol Red Notice from the UAE, I haven’t even lived there since 2008!” The woman on the other end of the line replied assuringly, in a tone equally professional and compassionate; even as she scrolled through dozens of emails on her laptop; each with a nightmarish story, an emergency, or a desperate plea for help. So begins a typical morning for the founder and CEO of Detained in Dubai, Radha Stirling. For over a dozen years, foreign nationals embroiled in legal dramas with the United Arab Emirates have found comfort in her calming, authoritative voice. She promises them solutions, and delivers. Stirling has been involved in some of the UAE’s highest profile cases, including bringing media attention to the escape and capture of Princess Latifa, the daughter of the Ruler of Dubai. But, she says, most of her work is done out of the spotlight. “At least 60-70% of our cases involve financial and business disputes between Emiratis and foreign citizens who have been cheated, extorted, or wrongfully prosecuted for fraud, when local partners exploit UAE laws and a biased justice system to their advantage,” she explains. The depth and breadth of her experience has made Radha Stirling the go-to legal and human rights expert on the UAE and broader Gulf region for major news outlets, such as the BBC, CNN, Sky News, and print media. She is a regular speaker and consultant with policy think tanks like the Heritage Foundation, and her work requires almost constant liaising with government officials around the world. “I remember the appalling case of Canadian Andre Gauthier, who had been wrongfully accused and charged with a massive scam in the UAE which he himself had actually exposed. The real scamster tried to scapegoat Andre, and he spent over a year in prison. But we consulted with the Canadian government day and night, advising their diplomatic strategy for securing Andre’s release until finally the UAE dropped the charges on all counts and let him go home.” - Quebec geologist back home after being detained in Dubai | CTV News Last year, Stirling expanded her work with the founding of Due Process International, which allows her to accept cases outside the Gulf, addressing legal failings throughout the Middle East, Asia, and beyond. “Foreign nationals often do not know what they are getting into when they go abroad,” she explains, “This is particularly true for investors and business people. They typically examine a very narrow set of criteria before deciding to set up stakes in another country – the ease of investing, the procedures for obtaining visas, rules on ownership – but they seldom review the overall human rights situation, the impartiality of the judiciary, and the actual experiences of other foreigners who have landed in legal trouble there. Just as with tourists, business people can easily find themselves under arrest in the UAE, and many other countries where the legal system has not kept pace with business development; even if they have scrupulously followed the law.” Calls like the panicked one she received in the morning, come in all day long. “The Gulf countries, the UAE and Qatar particularly, are habitual abusers of the Interpol system, having Red Notices issued as a form of harassment and even blackmail to force foreign investors and business people to pay off fabricated debts and exorbitant settlements,” Stirling cautions, “Our organisation has a 100% success rate in getting these abusive Notices removed. Being listed on Interpol is disastrous for anyone, being treated like a fugitive when you have done nothing wrong, but it can be especially devastating for a business owner with an international clientele or supply chain.” - Home | IPEX Reform Not only has Stirling been successful in the removal of her clients’ wrongful Red Notices, she has become the leading advocate for reform of the entire Interpol system, advising policy officials and legal activists on how the international policing organisation can improve. “After years of supplying expert testimony in UAE extradition cases in the UK, detailing the corrupt, frequently brutal criminal justice system; the High Court of England finally has taken the position that Britain will not extradite people to the Emirates, due to human rights concerns. Nevertheless, people will still get detained and questioned in the UK over an Interpol Red Notice requested by the UAE,” Radha says, “In 2019, an Australian footballer, Hakeem Al Araibi, who is a refugee from Bahrain was arrested in Thailand over a Red Notice from Bahrain – the country he fled for political persecution. After considerable campaigning and communication with authorities, he was released; but it never should have happened. It is against Interpol’s own rules; but Interpol does not screen Red Notice requests before listing people. It can take months for Interpol to grant removal requests over Notices that never should have been issued. Even when a country routinely requests wrongful listings, Interpol does not revoke or suspend their right to request Red Notices. There need to be measures inside the organisation to check abuse of the system. Otherwise, countries like the UAE will continue to use Interpol as an instrument to expand their own de facto jurisdiction overseas” That kind of overreach is something Radha Stirling has cautioned against for years. In one of her most talked-about cases, British national Laleh Shahravesh was arrested in the UAE over a Facebook post she wrote while in England. “The UAE’s Cybercrime laws are so vague and broad that literally anyone, anywhere, who says something online, can be charged in Dubai with a cybercrime if someone in the Emirates doesn’t like what they said. If they have never been to the UAE, it doesn’t matter. They could potentially be tried in absentia, and even reported to Interpol – all without knowing any of this has happened, just like Laleh.” "She is able to do what ambassadors, foreign secretaries, and diplomats cannot" - Outlook Initiative After more than 13 years and over 15,000 clients, dealing with every imaginable type of case – from being jailed in Dubai over a selfie at the wrong time and place, to business disputes worth hundreds of millions of pounds, from foreign nationals forced to sign false confessions to family members being detained over a relative’s bounced cheque; there is no other organisation with the expertise or track record of Detained in Dubai, and no one with the experience, insight, and skill of Radha Stirling in dealing with seemingly hopeless cases. More than once, a wrongfully accused foreign national has been released from UAE custody just because a tweet or news article mentioned that Detained in Dubai had taken the case; Dubai’s Ruler has even intervened to overrule court decisions on behalf of Stirling’s clients. If someone is facing legal problems in the UAE, the Gulf, or indeed, with the creation of Due Process International, in any foreign jurisdiction anywhere, they should have Radha Stirling on speed-dial. She is able to do what ambassadors, foreign secretaries, and diplomats cannot; and when you hear her calm voice promising you over the phone --as the police are pulling you aside -- that everything is going to be OK; you can be certain that it will be. There are thousands of people who have been in the same predicament who can attest to that. Related resources and Media: Read the Daily Mail's report on Detained in Dubai Join Detained in Dubai on YouTube See Detained in Dubai Testimonials Follow Radha Stirling on Linkedin Follow Radha Stirling on Instagram

A British woman on holiday in Spain with her friend was arrested after Qatar issued a red notice against her, alleging a cheap plane ticket was bought in her name with a stolen credit card several years ago. The woman must now undergo legal proceedings in Spain to defend herself against an extradition request if it is forthcoming. This comes after Steven Williams’ arrest in Spain over a Qatar National Bank issued Interpol Red Notice over a debt he didn’t owe. Last year, Scot Conor Howard was detained in Greece after a frivolous notice was issued against him for carrying a store bought herb grinder while transiting through Doha from Australia. Conor spent nearly a month in prison with his distraught family expecting the worst, that he would be extradited to a Middle Eastern prison. - Greece bails Scotsman Conor Howard in Qatar extradition Interpol & Extradition expert witness, Radha Stirling, has noticed a sharp increase in Qatar issued red notices. “Since Qatar’s commitment to financially invest in Interpol, it is clear they feel entitled to use Interpol as their personal debt collectors and harassment agents in a ‘pay to play’ agreement with the agency.” British national and former police officer David Blackhouse was pulled over on the side of a road in Cornwall and dragged into custody. Stirling commented, “this case is absolutely appalling. British authorities should know better than to arrest first and ask questions later. The UK is well aware of the gulf nations tendency to abuse Interpol’s database. Mr Blackhouse should never have been treated this way and Interpol must be held to account. We are currently preparing a class action for victims of Interpol Abuse, which will include Conor Howard”. After thirteen years of specialising in defending extradition requests and fighting against ‘Interpol Abuse’, Stirling founded organisation IPEX (Interpol and Extradition) Reform, a comprehensive initiative to address the widespread and multilayered problems with the current framework of the extradition process, including the many flaws in Interpol itself as an organisation. - The King of Interpol Abuse “Interpol is complicit in numerous and serious human rights abuses and will soon be held to account. Interpol has become a pay to play organisation, open to manipulation and abuse by countries with poor human rights records. Countries like the UAE, Saudi, Qatar, Bahrain, Iran, Turkey, Russia, Egypt and China have been able to use the crime tool for their own personal vendettas. Countries like the Emirates have used Interpol’s reach to extend their jurisdiction beyond their borders, causing the arrest, detention and prosecution abroad of many innocent victims. Innocent individuals have been listed on Interpol, arrested, detained and tried for ‘crimes’ that don’t even meet Interpol’s minimum reporting criteria. Journalists, activists, businessmen and credit card debtors have been locked up in Western nations at the mere request of countries who repeatedly take advantage of their membership with Interpol.” Related media and resources: Home | IPEX Reform Interpol & Extradition Reform, Expert Witness, Interpol Removal, Crisis Management INTERPOL RED NOTICE REMOVAL Interpol Red Notice Removal, Extradition Defence, Expert Witness and Litigation support