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Originally published at Great Companies Great Companies: How did you get your idea or concept for the business? Radha Stirling: Since 2008, I have been asked by victims of wrongful Interpol reporting to assist them to clear their names and protect them from unfair extradition requests. ‘Interpol abuse’ became so prevalent that I found it necessary to open an organisation dedicated to saving victims from human rights abuses. 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. It was a clear expansion of my human rights work to focus on lobbying for long term reform of the Interpol Red Notice and extradition procedures. Countries like the UAE, Saudi, Qatar, Bahrain, Iran, Turkey, Venezuela, South Korea, Russia, Egypt and China have been able to use the crime tool for their own personal vendettas. IPEX seeks to eliminate this practice. Great Companies: What are the various services provided by IPEX (Interpol & Extradition) Reform? Radha Stirling: IPEX seeks to advise, lobby, and achieve urgently needed reforms in Interpol’s internal procedures for data collection and the issuance of diffusion Notices, as well as to improve Interpol’s overall transparency and accountability so that the organisation’s crucial function in global law enforcement will no longer be compromised by abuse and manipulation; and so that no more innocent individuals will suffer the devastating consequences of being wrongfully included in Interpol’s database. IPEX provides Interpol removal and prevention services, extradition defence, reputation management and recovery from the damage such a wrongful abuse of the system can cause. Great Companies: What makes IPEX (Interpol & Extradition) Reform different from hundreds of other similar service providers? Radha Stirling: CEO Radha Stirling has been a leading voice against Interpol abuse, having pursued 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. With her 15 years experience, she is an expert witness in the field, who works with politicians, enforcement authorities, legislators and the media to ensure accountability within the organisation. Stirling is spearheading the first class action against the seemingly immune Lyon based agency. Great Companies: What were the struggles and challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? Radha Stirling: When taking on an international enforcement agency with diplomatic immunity backed by powerful authoritarian states, and with zero incentive to comply with United Nations principles in respect of human rights, it’s never going to be easy. Interpol has lacked not only transparency but also accountability. They have seen the abuse of their system and the suffering of individuals as ‘collateral damage’. They haven’t wanted to rock the boat of any member states (donors) in case it impacts their income. Campaigning for individuals and highlighting these ongoing abuses to the point where reform becomes a priority has been more than a decade’s work but with perseverance, change is inevitable. Highlighting case after case to the media and working with influential think tanks and political figures to push the issue with legislators is an ongoing project that has begun to bear fruit. Great Companies: How do you plan to grow in the future? What does 5 years down the line look like for IPEX (Interpol & Extradition) Reform? Radha Stirling: We’re working on some groundbreaking projects and lawsuits that will ultimately force Interpol to review protocols to protect individuals from abuse. As part of these endeavours, we are to recommend international protocols and procedures that member countries should adhere to when considering extradition requests. We anticipate such measures will reduce the prevalence of wrongful arrests, wrongful extraditions and human rights abuses. Great Companies: If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be? Radha Stirling: Choose a business that you’re passionate about, that you’re naturally drawn to, that doesn’t feel like work to you and that builds your sense of self esteem. Write down your goals regularly and practice self discipline. If you can imagine it, you can do it. Interpol Red Notice - Press Pack - Download your free Media and information pack on Interpol Abuse, produced by leading expert Radha Stirling, one of the most prominent voices against Interpol abuse since 2008. Detained in Dubai: http://www.detainedindubai.org Detained in Doha: https://www.detainedindoha.org Radha Stirling: http://www.radhastirling.com CLAN - Crypto Legal Advocacy Network: https://www.bitclan.org/ Due Process International: http://www.dueprocess.international IPEX - Interpol & Extradition Reform & Defence Experts: https://www.ipexreform.com/ Podcast: http://www.gulfinjustice.news Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/detainedindubai YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/detainedindubai Live news and updates on Telegram: https://t.me/stirlingnews mail: info@detainedindubai.org / WhatsApp/phone +447309114195

Despite the fact that Saudi Arabia and Iran have been engaging in talks for several months, no one was prepared for the dramatic announcement that the two countries would resume diplomatic ties. The international community was even less prepared for the fact that the Saudi-Iran deal was brokered by China. While the rapprochement between the two traditional rivals in the Gulf is objectively positive, and had been hailed as an epochal turning point in the region by world leaders; there are concerns about what the agreement – and the negotiations that led to it – reveals about the declining influence of the United States, and by extension, Europe, in the Middle East. The Biden Administration’s response to the announcement was conspicuously muted, with the US president saying good relations are “better for everybody”, and White House Spokesman John Kirby somewhat sheepishly assuring journalists that the US had been kept “in the loop” regarding the historic talks between the Saudis and Iranians. To put this blasé response in perspective: the United States has been the major mediator in the Middle East for at least the past 50 years; they have no fewer than 18 military bases and around 40,000 troops permanently located in the region. Just last week, US officials unveiled a new set of sanctions against Iran. A spokesperson for U.S. Central Command, or CENTCOM, said earlier this month that “Iran remains the leading source of instability in the region and is a threat to the United States and our partners.” Yet, the United States was simply “in the loop” on negotiations? It is undeniably worrying that deals are being struck without American or Western participation involving three undemocratic regimes to reshape the landscape of power in one of the most strategic regions in the world. This is particularly true when two of those regimes – China and Iran -- take openly aggressive postures towards the West, and the third – Saudi Arabia – has become increasingly indifferent to American and European interests. While of course everyone would like to see regional tensions subside, we must ask ourselves what fruits can be borne from the collaboration of three authoritarian regimes with notorious human rights records when there is no democratic moderator? I have long warned that an authoritarian nexus was being created between repressive states around the world, building a parallel and competing political jurisdiction outside the rule of law, excluding Western governments, and averse to democratic values and human rights. Heading Detained in Dubai and Due Process International, I have seen how countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, for example, circumvent or manipulate international protocols and institutions to pursue dissidents abroad, or to punish foreign citizens over petty financial disputes through abuse of Interpol; jurisdiction shopping for countries willing to comply with illegitimate extradition demands. I have supported clients detained in countries at the request of Gulf states or North Korea for alleged offences that would not pass muster in any Western court of law. I have seen how the UAE shunned diplomatic norms to coordinate a joint attack with India against an American-flagged private vessel in international waters by trading favours with the Indian prime minister over the phone. By cultivating this network of willing renegade regimes, these countries – like Iran, China, and Saudi Arabia – are building a support system that insulates them from Western influence. This can only further deteriorate the human rights conditions prevailing under each participating government. It is an informal alliance of impunity. In my work, exposing abuses in these countries to international, and particularly Western scrutiny, is often the only means for securing justice for victims; so, it is deeply concerning that the West is becoming increasingly side-lined. If the United States and Europe allow their importance to diminish in the Middle East, with China surpassing them in relevance; no amount of Western outrage over human rights abuses, torture, false imprisonment, and wrongful convictions will have an impact. China and the UAE: The Long Game China is playing the long game and if left unchallenged, will secure Beijing's control over the global economy for the next century. The US, the UK, and Europe cannot afford to simply be “in the loop” when it comes to the Middle East, particularly when those countries are hard-selling themselves to the West as destinations for investment and tourism. It is simply too dangerous for Western visitors if their home countries have no standing in the eyes of the Gulf States to prevent abuse. We can applaud the Iran-Saudi agreement as an historic turning point in the region, but what we will be hailing, if we are being honest, is the retreat of Western influence in the Middle East, and that is more ominous than inspiring. Tourism in Saudi Arabia too risky Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is a dangerous figure. Equal parts despot, dictator, mafia-style don, but also political and social reformer; he is attempting to bend the kingdom to his will... Detained in Dubai: http://www.detainedindubai.org Detained in Doha: https://www.detainedindoha.org Radha Stirling: http://www.radhastirling.com CLAN - Crypto Legal Advocacy Network: https://www.bitclan.org/ Due Process International: http://www.dueprocess.international IPEX - Interpol & Extradition Reform & Defence Experts: https://www.ipexreform.com/ Podcast: http://www.gulfinjustice.news Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/detainedindubai YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/detainedindubai Live news and updates on Telegram: https://t.me/stirlingnews mail: info@detainedindubai.org / WhatsApp/phone +447309114195

A common question of former UAE expats and one that should be asked before travel: Countless people over the years have been arrested when transiting through Dubai for reasons ranging from credit card or utility debts to employer absconding cases and landlord disputes. Some of these debts have been more than 20 years old while others are simple administrative errors (payments not properly recorded). Some unfortunate travellers have been taken from their seats on the plane while in transit. Arrests occur whether the traveller clears through immigration, remains in the airport or even on the plane. Resolving these issues can be costly and lengthy and it is advisable to avoid transit altogether or to conduct a status check in advance. Contact policecheck@detainedindubai.org with any questions. Detained in Dubai: http://www.detainedindubai.org Detained in Doha: https://www.detainedindoha.org Radha Stirling: http://www.radhastirling.com CLAN - Crypto Legal Advocacy Network: https://www.bitclan.org/ Due Process International: http://www.dueprocess.international IPEX - Interpol & Extradition Reform & Defence Experts: https://www.ipexreform.com/ Podcast: http://www.gulfinjustice.news Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/detainedindubai YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/detainedindubai Live news and updates on Telegram: https://t.me/stirlingnews mail: info@detainedindubai.org / WhatsApp/phone +447309114195

On the 30th of January, Detained in Dubai celebrated its 15th anniversary in London with friends, clients and members of the media and legal community. It was truly an honour to have so many wonderful people join us for such a special occasion and we thank everyone for their support. Lord Clement Jones has advocated for British citizens wrongfully detained abroad. We were privileged to hear his powerful words of support for Dubai prisoners and for our organisation’s work. His Lordship has tirelessly advocated for Ryan Cornelius, Charles Ridley and has now come to learn about Albert Douglas, who shares a cell with Ryan and Charles. "We are truly grateful to have the support of an esteemed member of the House of Lords", added Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai. See Lord Clement Jones & Radha Stirling on BBC Albert’s son Wolfgang passionately told the harrowing story of his father’s wrongful detention and torture, a shocking representation of what lies behind the “glamorous” tourist destination. "Wolfgang has been tirelessly advocating for his innocent father's release from Dubai jail. He will never give up, we love his passion and we love him," said Ms Stirling. HOME | Albert Douglas Albert Douglas, wrongfully detained in Duabi and subject to grave human rights abuses within the UAE prison system. #FreeAlbert is a campaign solely dedicated to getting Albert home and ending torture in the Emirates. John Glendinning arrived from Scotland, delivering an emotional speech after his brother Brian was released from an Iraqi prison. He was held over a small Qatar bank debt. In celebrating Brian’s release, we were reminded that others like Hussein Yactine remain locked up in foreign jails over small bank debts, a violation of Interpol’s charter. Brian has been desperately trying to help former cellmate, Hussein, get home. Stirling was elated to finally meet John in person after spending day and night on the phone to him during Brian's incarceration,"It was an absolute pleasure to work intensely with Brian's family to secure his freedom but as Brian says, there are still dozens of people detained abroad and the fight goes on. I look forward to seeing Brian and his family in Scotland later this year. They are forever my friends". Scots dad locked up in Iraq for months launches fight for cellmate to be freed - Daily Record Brian Glendinning, 43, was in jail for more than two months in Baghdad after he was arrested at Basrah airport when he arrived to start a new job in September. Professor John Cooper, KC highlighted the organisation’s ongoing battle for justice against powerful governments. With challenges ranging from Israeli spy companies and PR agencies deployed against Radha Stirling and her clients, to the heavy task of recruiting foreign governmental and diplomatic support and to saving people in life and death situations. Stirling previously worked with Cooper during the Princess Latifa fiasco, "John is a remarkable KC, author, professor and friend. His passionate speech was deeply appreciated as is his ongoing support for myself, for justice and for our organisation. Many attendees were unaware of some of the horrendous cases Detained in Dubai has seen over the years. Veteran Perry Coppins spoke of the time he spent in prison and how it has subsequently impacted his life. Perry was locked up for prescription medicine, until a kind doctor told him to call “Detained in Dubai”. “I was out three days later”, he told the room. Radha has been friends with Perry ever since his release. "It was so good to see Perry in person again. His experience in the UAE had a terrible impact on his life. His story was very emotional for those who had only heard it for the first time." Briton 'freed' in Dubai after being found with 'too many pills' - BBC News Perry Coppins said was stopped by customs officials in the United Arab Emirates for having "too many pills" on him. In the audience was fellow veteran Andy Neal who was detained and abused by UAE authorities for a year before being finally exonerated. Stirling advocated for Andy's release after he was wrongfully arrested by Dubai police and their 'wide net' policies. "It was a blessing to meet Andy for the first time in person and for him to share his story with so many. It's disturbing that the countless people who are wrongfully detained in the UAE and subsequently released, do not receive compensation nor even an apology. Their mistreatment and abuse leaves permanent scars but the experience is just swept under the rug by Emirati authorities and by our own governments". Stirling, along with Baroness Whitaker, have lobbied the British government to increase travel warnings as a means to encourage local UAE reform. British soldier is CLEARED after spending a year in UAE prisons on false drugs charges | Daily Mail Online Andy Neal, 44, has been cleared of all charges after he was arrested in October 2018 by Dubai police on false drug charges. The father-of-two spent over a year in prisons across the UAE. Entrepreneur and author Marek Zmyslowsk spoke about his thrilling fight against a wrongful Interpol Red Notice. Marek’s life was forever touched and he is an ongoing advocate against Interpol abuse. For a tale of criminal gangs in Nigeria, of powerful enemies and life as an international fugitive, read Marek’s autobiography, Chasing Black Unicorns: How building the Amazon of Africa put me on Interpol's Most Wanted list. A number of former Interpol “fugitives” were present and ever supportive of IPEX Reform, Stirling’s organisation that lobbies for Interpol and extradition reform. Marek Zmyslowski – I build Companies outside the First World, so it becomes First. It was wonderful to hear from Mr André Gauthier and his son Alexis who joined the celebration from Quebec, Canada. André was scapegoated by powerful elites in the Gold AE scam. After an intense fight against the dozens of charges against him, he was fully exonerated. André is writing a book detailing the intrigue of his business and detention in Dubai. Stirling met him for the first time in person. "I was so happy André and his son Alexis made the trip from Canada to join our celebration. His case and the details of the Gold AE scam are shocking and I can't wait to read his book. His release was negotiated with the support of the media, the Canadian government and UAE diplomats." After years detained in Dubai, falsely-accused Quebecer is grateful to be home | CBC News Gauthier's family maintains he was a whistleblower who alerted authorities in the United Arab Emirates to irregular dealings in a gold-trading company and then was arrested for the fraud himself. Celebrity detective David Swindle joined us from Scotland to speak at the event. His work investigating deaths abroad, helping bereaved families seek justice is paramount to victims of crime. David frequently appears in documentaries and on television. He is the senior investigator who brought serial killer Peter Tobin to justice. David is touring the UK all year in “The Makings of a Murderer” - Investigating The UK’s Most Notorious Serial Killers and we have no doubt you will enjoy the show! Finally, attendees learned the organisation was founded after former “big brother boss” Cat Le-Huy was detained in Dubai. If it weren’t for Cat’s 7 week long detention for melatonin pills, 20,000 people would not have been helped by Detained in Dubai. Cat Le-Huey. "It's hard to imagine how my life may have turned out if I wasn't thrust into my position at Detained in Dubai, but I am ever grateful to Cat for enduring that seven weeks in Al Wathba. Without that taunting experience, thousands more would have suffered. Our angel". Dubai has a dark secret of medieval injustice... the princess is only the start, writes GUY ADAMS | Daily Mail Online GUY ADAMS: The princess is under armed guard, recently smuggling out remarkable videos telling how she had been seized by commandos while in international waters. Radha Stirling – A Leading Human Rights Advocate Dedicated to Help Victims of Injustice | CIO VIEWS We are ever grateful to those who shared our event last week including members of British media, lawyers, litigation funders and friends. With your support, our work is made possible. Detained in Dubai: http://www.detainedindubai.org Detained in Doha: https://www.detainedindoha.org Radha Stirling: http://www.radhastirling.com CLAN - Crypto Legal Advocacy Network: https://www.bitclan.org/ Due Process International: http://www.dueprocess.international IPEX - Interpol & Extradition Reform & Defence Experts: https://www.ipexreform.com/ Podcast: http://www.gulfinjustice.news Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/detainedindubai YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/detainedindubai Live news and updates on Telegram: https://t.me/stirlingnews mail: info@detainedindubai.org / WhatsApp/phone +447309114195

Indian citizens are more likely to be imprisoned in the UAE than in any other country in the world. “There are over 8,000 Indian nationals incarcerated in foreign jails,” says Radha Stirling, CEO of Due Process International and founder of Detained in Dubai, “Roughly half of them are imprisoned in Gulf countries, with the highest number being in the UAE.” Indians constitute roughly one-third of the Emirates’ total population, but Stirling says the alarming incarceration rate is not explained merely by demographic representation; but that the UAE justice system is fundamentally biased, and citizens of India are particularly vulnerable to false arrest. “There are approximately the same number of Indian nationals living in the United States, yet there are fewer than 300 Indian prisoners; and that in a country with the highest overall incarceration rate on earth. There are 2.5 million Indian citizens in a country like Malaysia, many of whom come from the same socioeconomic strata as those who migrate to the UAE, but Malaysia only has around 400 Indian prisoners. There are even fewer Indian citizens jailed in Pakistan than in the Emirates. There is clearly a systemic problem in the UAE criminal justice system that disproportionately targets citizens from the sub-continent. “As political and economic ties between India and the UAE have grown over the past decade, so has the frequency of false arrests, arbitrary detentions, deportations, and Interpol abuse against Indian nationals by the UAE”, Stirling explains, “While one would normally expect better relations to be accompanied by greater respect, the opposite has occurred. We are not only talking about blue-collar labourers being targeted by the police – workers with no real rights or protections – as we used to see 15 or 20 years ago; today, it is just as common for high level Indian investors and professionals to be wrongfully prosecuted and hounded by abusive Interpol Red Notices over financial or contractual disputes. “The pattern we have noted over our 15 years in the field, is that the UAE tends to see its relative economic and political usefulness to its allies as a licence to mistreat its allies’ citizens. The more the UAE becomes vital as a trading or strategic partner to a country, the more that country’s people are at risk in the Emirates. This has been the case for the United Kingdom, for the US, and it is increasingly true for India.” Stirling says that the UAE habitually uses the Interpol system for data collection as a tool for harassment and as a method to expand its de facto jurisdiction by requesting abusive Red Notices, “The UAE is one of the worst offenders when it comes to Interpol abuse. Not only are they among Interpol’s top funders, they successfully campaigned to win the Interpol presidency for Emirati Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi, who is himself under investigation for torture and human rights abuse. We deal with hundreds of cases every year where a foreign national has been wronged in a financial or business dispute with a local, falsely accused and wrongfully convicted in absentia, who is then listed on Interpol ostensibly to pursue extradition. These disputes are not criminal in nature, and the absentia convictions are completely rejected according to international norms of due process; but the UAE essentially uses Red Notice to extort victims by bringing their lives and businesses to a screeching halt through an Interpol listing. They are treated as wanted fugitives and detained at all ports of entry wherever they go, usually just to satisfy a vindictive Emirati ex-business partner or local bank that does not want to reschedule payments on a loan. We have seen a significant surge in precisely these types of cases involving Indian investors and entrepreneurs in the UAE. The Emirates appears to believe it is too important to India for New Delhi to protest this mistreatment, and it appears they are correct.” Risky Business for Indians in the UAE With an estimated 2 million migrants, Indians form easily the largest expat population in the UAE. They are an integral part of the business community, the labor force, and the society as a whole. Living and working in the UAE offers Indian expats many opportunities to prosper, and this has made the Emirates a very popular destination. However, Indians face the same potential for legal problems as any other expat group. Substantial Increase in Legal Problems for White Collar Indians in the UAE, including Interpol & Extradition The UAE is composed of many nationalities, though Indians form over 50% of the total population in the UAE. 20% of Indian expats are working in professional employment with a great number of entrepreneurs establishing businesses in a flourishing economy. Due Process Newsroom & Media Centre Stirling says that 8 years ago approximately 20% of Detained in Dubai’s financial dispute and Interpol clients were Indian nationals in the UAE, today she says they are the majority. “Well over half of the Interpol abuse cases stemming from business or debt-related issues involve Indian citizens,” She explains, “These can pertain to minor disputes or cases in which million-dollar companies have been destroyed, sabotaged, or seized by Emirati partners. We have clients who were close advisors to ruling families, and people who literally helped build the economy of the UAE over the course of decades – there is no exemption or preferential treatment afforded to Indian citizens regardless of their contribution to the country or their economic status; and unfortunately, the consular support of the Indian Embassy has become increasingly hands-off.” Recent rulings in India curtail the likelihood of extradition to the UAE, Stirling says, however, Indian authorities can still prosecute the accused locally if the charges are also considered crimes in India. “Most UAE Red Notices arise from financial disputes, debts, or bounced-cheques, which Emirati authorities creatively frame as fraud, this is also a criminal offence in India. Thus, even if India will not extradite citizens to the UAE, they will prosecute locally based on the UAE’s mischaracterisation of the disputes. The backlog of court cases in India is enormous and someone can be subjected to years of proceedings, or even years of remand incarceration, before ever settling such matters; all as the result of an abusive UAE Red Notice.” Stirling’s organisation offers an Interpol Prevention service to clients to help them avoid the issuance of a wrongful Red Notice, as well as Interpol Removal expertise to appeal against Notices that have already been issued. “We are proud to have a 100% success rate in having abusive Red Notices deleted from Interpol’s database,” She says, “We have developed a good working relationship with Interpol over the years, and are intimately familiar with the UAE’s evolving methods for abusing the system. Indian nationals need to be aware of the risks they face in the Emirates, but if and when they do encounter problems, we have a long track record of providing solutions.” Radha Stirling - Outlook Magazine Feature 2021 - Inspiring Leaders by Radha Stirling - Detained in Dubai: http://www.detainedindubai.org Detained in Doha: https://www.detainedindoha.org Radha Stirling: http://www.radhastirling.com CLAN - Crypto Legal Advocacy Network: https://www.bitclan.org/ Due Process International: http://www.dueprocess.international IPEX - Interpol & Extradition Reform & Defence Experts: https://www.ipexreform.com/ Podcast: http://www.gulfinjustice.news Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/detainedindubai YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/detainedindubai Live news and updates on Telegram: https://t.me/stirlingnews mail: info@detainedindubai.org / WhatsApp/phone +447309114195

Following a high-profile campaign to secure the freedom of Egyptian-American Sherif Osman after his arrest in Dubai over his criticism of the Egyptian government, Detained in Dubai announced today that Osman has returned home to the United States. The Egyptian-born US citizen was detained on holiday in the UAE last month over an extradition request by the Egyptian government because of his online criticisms of the regime of Abdel-Fatah El Sisi and his support for protests during the recent COP27 gathering in Sharm el-Sheikh. He was detained since early November and faced imminent deportation to Egypt where human rights activists feared his life would be in danger. “There is no doubt that Sherif would have faced serious risk of abuse in Egyptian custody,” explained Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, who led the campaign for Osman’s release. Sherif Osman case highlights America’s dwindling influence in the Middle East “His arrest was appalling,” She said, “Sherff was detained for social media content he published in the United States, under his constitutionally-protected right to free speech; yet he was arrested by the UAE, an American ally, with the objective of extraditing him to Egypt, another American ally; where he would have been thrown into a prison system notorious for abuse of political dissidents, and where one American had already lost his life in custody. “We engaged not only the media and American consular officials on Sherif’s behalf, but also with his congressional representatives; urging the intervention of the US government to prevent his deportation and bring Sherif home. Dubai authorities were intent upon his extradition until his case garnered international attention, and we are extremely grateful for the diplomatic efforts the US undertook to secure his freedom once they became aware of Sherif’s plight.” Stirling hails progress in detention of American over Egypt criticism Osman had earlier been released on bail in Dubai after weeks in detention pending authorities’ decision on his deportation. “We believe the UAE paused the extradition process after the case reached the media and American officials became involved,” Stirling explained, “Without the scrutiny of the international press, and the concerted effort of campaigners, Sherif’s deportation would likely have been carried out within days of his arrest. Almost 400 people have been extradited from the Emirates in the last 2 years, and Egypt and the UAE have a very strong relationship, so, we regarded Sherif’s case with the utmost urgency. Over half of the population of Egypt’s jails are political prisoners; torture and abuse are routine; Sherif’s life would have been in danger had his deportation not been averted.” The full details of Osman’s release and return to the US have not been disclosed and the small business owner and social media commentator still needs time to convalesce with his family and recover from his ordeal. “We are immensely relieved that Sherif is finally home,” Stirling said, “This has been a traumatic time for him and his loved ones; it should never have happened, and we hope that the authorities in the US will take steps to ensure that the same thing never happens again to another American citizen.” Detained in Dubai: http://www.detainedindubai.org Detained in Doha: https://www.detainedindoha.org Radha Stirling: http://www.radhastirling.com CLAN - Crypto Legal Advocacy Network: https://www.bitclan.org/ Due Process International: http://www.dueprocess.international IPEX - Interpol & Extradition Reform & Defence Experts: https://www.ipexreform.com/ Podcast: http://www.gulfinjustice.news Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/detainedindubai YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/detainedindubai Live news and updates on Telegram: https://t.me/stirlingnews mail: info@detainedindubai.org / WhatsApp/phone +447309114195

Brian Glendinning returned home to Scotland after being detained in an Iraqi jail over a Qatar issued Interpol Red Notice for debt. After extensive campaigning, he was finally released and avoided what was set to be at least two years in prison. His welcomed return to Scotland though, has left him feeling immense sadness for his 36 year old cellmate, Hussein Yactine, who helped him survive the ordeal. Hussein has been in detention in Iraq for over one year for the same reasons as Brian, a Qatar bank debt. The pair still communicate frequently after Brian promised not to forget him. “Hussein doesn’t have the support of his country, Lebanon”, explained Brian, “they don’t have the clout or the inclination to help citizens wrongfully detained abroad and Hussein’s helpless against this unjust process. I could easily have been in his shoes if it weren’t for the legal and diplomatic efforts made on my behalf. I was lucky and I think everyone knows how unfair my detention was. It seems shocking to me that our country has supported Qatar’s rise while they continue to violate international treaties and protocols on human rights issues”. Brian told the BBC that Brits should not be supporting the World Cup and should avoid visiting or investing in Qatar. “If a private commercial bank has the ability to have foreigners locked up abroad even though it’s against Interpol’s protocols and against UN directives, nobody should feel safe”, added Brian. When Brian was released from prison, Hussein put a handwritten note in his bag which read “Congrats bro because you left from here. I’m really happy that you’re going to your country to see your wife and kids. I hope you will never forget your friend, Hussein”. In a recorded telephone call, Hussein pleaded with Brian “I need your help. I can not stay here any more. My month is long, nobody is helping, nobody is doing anything. I hope your friend Radha can help me. I have family, three kids, I don’t have anybody, you know my situation.” Interpol and Extradition expert Radha Stirling, who represented Brian Glendinning commented “Jailing debtors works for banks, or so they say. When debtors are arrested, banks hope that family members will bail them out but for the most part, family members end up spending their life savings on hefty legal fees. It’s counter-productive but the bank would rather punish their customer than recover the funds owed. In most of these cases, the customer is already in touch with the bank, organising a repayment scheme but they are jailed anyway. These are not fraudsters who took a loan and absconded. Most defaulting customers have hit hard times or suffered a health issue. They genuinely want to repay the loan. They’re not criminals and shouldn’t be treated as such. Interpol is being misused as a debt collector for banks but financial contributions from member states leave the organisation morally bankrupt”. Brian continued, “Hussein was such a support for me while I was in prison. I don’t know if I’d have survived without him. 2 months in Iraq prison was breaking for me and I can’t believe he has already spent a year inside. These banks have no humanity and Brits should avoid Qatar at all costs. People have been jailed over as little as a few thousand pounds and nobody should ever think ‘it can’t happen to me’. Banks add whatever legal fees or interest they want and will quadruple the debt because they have jail hanging over your head”. Brian is calling on the British government to raise this concern with Qatar. “They need to update the law. They can’t keep allowing their ally to jail foreigners abroad. It’s outrageous”. Stirling, who founded the organisation Detained in Doha said she will be in touch with Hussein’s bank and Qatar’s Ministry of Interior. “If Qatar withdraws the extradition request from Iraq, Hussein will be able to return home and seek employment to enable him to continue repayments. There is no benefit to keeping him locked up or extraditing him to lock him up for another few years. It makes no sense. Let him work and let him repay the loan. He has no savings or family to help him and there is no point at all to keep him in prison. We also hope the MOI in Qatar will guide banks to reserve such harsh tactics for genuine financial crime”. Detained in Dubai: http://www.detainedindubai.org Detained in Doha: https://www.detainedindoha.org Radha Stirling: http://www.radhastirling.com CLAN - Crypto Legal Advocacy Network: https://www.bitclan.org/ Due Process International: http://www.dueprocess.international IPEX - Interpol & Extradition Reform & Defence Experts: https://www.ipexreform.com/ Podcast: http://www.gulfinjustice.news Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/detainedindubai YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/detainedindubai Live news and updates on Telegram: https://t.me/stirlingnews mail: info@detainedindubai.org / WhatsApp/phone +447309114195

Christopher Emms was indicted in the US on allegations he had violated American sanctions (IEEPA) when attending a conference in North Korea, despite being a British citizen and having broken no UK or international laws. His spokesperson and crisis manager, Radha Stirling, criticised the move as an abusive expansion of universal jurisdiction to prosecute cryptocurrency professionals for ulterior motives. Chris was arrested in Saudi after the US activated an Interpol Red Notice against him. His accounts were frozen and he was left to fight extradition from the Middle East. His MP was outraged that the US could impose on Britain’s sovereignty, claiming Brits must abide by local US rules. It was clear to Ms Stirling that the new crypto task force was not about justice, not about crime prevention, but about convictions for profit at any cost. GQ Magazine reported that Nick Carlsen, a former FBI investigator confirmed “it’s pure profit, you have a team of like, 15-20 guys doing this, and they pull in as much money as the labour of maybe 100,000 coal miners and shipping guys and gold traders. I mean, it’s just incomparable value.” The Pyongyang crypto caper: North Korea, crypto heists and the new front line of cybercrime | British GQ When a group of guileless blockchain entrepreneurs found themselves invited to North Korea, it seemed like a weird adventure – until the travellers found themselves wanted by the FBI, accused of helping a rogue state evade international sanctions. Was it really a criminal conspiracy, or just a case of crypto bros gone wrong? Stirling said “The US is attempting, by hook or by crook, to assert global jurisdiction over all issues pertaining to cryptocurrency, regardless of where a transaction or interaction takes place, and regardless of the nationalities of those involved. To this end, American authorities are trying to creatively expand the legal applicability of the IEEPA to non-US persons; and what they have done in Chris’s case through blatant intimidation. Stirling believes Emms’s case is borne of frustration among the US authorities, who have struggled to get results in their assault on crypto’s underbelly. “Biden set up a recent task force just to go after cryptocurrency, and I think they’re looking to secure convictions, freeze and confiscate assets,” Stirling said. The US government is probing to see if it can catch and convict a foreigner under IEEPA. According to Stirling, Emms was unlucky enough to blunder into their reach. “What the GQ investigation confirms is that people are going to prison, being intimidated into plea deals and bullied by the DOJ who are interested only in profiteering from indictments and advancing the US government’s crypto domination plan”. Christopher Emms applauded the GQ investigation: Colonising the Cryptosphere - by Radha Stirling It is entirely possible that the heyday of cryptocurrencies is already over. The era of brilliant young visionaries imagining a world of decentralised finance, in which every person could conjure wealth seemingly out of the ether -- potentially empowering the masses Detained in Dubai: http://www.detainedindubai.org Detained in Doha: https://www.detainedindoha.org Radha Stirling: http://www.radhastirling.com CLAN - Crypto Legal Advocacy Network: https://www.bitclan.org/ Due Process International: http://www.dueprocess.international IPEX - Interpol & Extradition Reform & Defence Experts:} https://www.ipexreform.com/ Podcast: http://www.gulfinjustice.news Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/detainedindubai YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/detainedindubai Live news and updates on Telegram: https://t.me/stirlingnews mail: info@detainedindubai.org / WhatsApp/phone +447309114195

After two months of prison hell, Brian opens up and he's angry at Qatar's "disgusting" World Cup. Scottish construction engineer, Brian Glendinning was jailed in Iraq over a Qatar National Bank issued Interpol Red Notice for a small debt. After substantial diplomatic, media and strategic efforts of crisis manager Radha Stirling, Brian returned home to Scotland on Saturday. “It brought a tear to my eye as I heard Brian’s worst moment in prison”, said extradition expert Radha Stirling, who hosts the Gulf in Justice Podcast “What Brian has been through is unimaginable. The way the guards mocked him, laughed at him, looted him and harassed his wife. The conditions in Iraqi jails are abysmal with the only positive being that Brian wasn’t tortured himself. He did however, witness the inhumane treatment of other prisoners and the scars of what he saw will remain with him for life. Listen to the interview: “I am privileged to have been able to help this dear family who I have come to know. I’m grateful for their energy and dedication in supporting the campaign to free Brian.” Brian told Ms Stirling that he is still unable to sleep well. Every time he closes his eyes, he sees the prison ceiling fans and hears the pained groans of fellow inmates. Traumatised by his experience, Brian has vowed that he will never set foot in the Middle East again. He said he is sickened by the scenes of celebrations in Qatar as the World Cup continues. “It was Qatar that abuse Interpol’s databases and caused his detention in Iraq. They do this on a regular basis”, confirms Stirling. “We are working with Kenny MacAskill, MP and a number of concerned parliamentary groups to push the British government to safeguard citizens against further abuse. We simply can not have our strong allies and trade partners causing our citizens to be wrongfully detained abroad and at risk of violence or torture. It is unlawful and a violation of international law to report debt to Interpol. There are other civil means for them to recover credit card debts such as through the county court. Brian said, “These countries are so corrupt. All they care about is money and being the wealthiest - Qatar in particular. That country has put me through hell. The fact the World Cup has been allowed to be held there is sickening. I'm refusing to watch it.” Scots dad Brian Glendinning opens up on 'mental torture' of Iraq prison hell - Daily Record Brian Glendinning, 43, was locked up in a Baghdad jail for 70 days after being arrested in Basra International Airport on September 4. Detained in Dubai: http://www.detainedindubai.org Detained in Doha: https://www.detainedindoha.org Radha Stirling: http://www.radhastirling.com CLAN - Crypto Legal Advocacy Network: https://www.bitclan.org/ Due Process International: http://www.dueprocess.international IPEX - Interpol & Extradition Reform & Defence Experts:} https://www.ipexreform.com/ Podcast: http://www.gulfinjustice.news Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/detainedindubai YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/detainedindubai Live news and updates on Telegram: https://t.me/stirlingnews mail: info@detainedindubai.org / WhatsApp/phone +447309114195

Urgent diplomatic intervention required. American citizen Sherif Osman, who was arrested in Dubai earlier this month and faces extradition to Egypt over criticisms he posted on social media against the regime of President Abdel-Fatah El-Sisi, cannot be deported on the basis of an Interpol Red Notice, Radha Stirling confirmed today. Stirling is the founder and CEO of Detained in Dubai and IPEX, an organisation dedicated to Interpol and extradition reform, and recently became involved in Osman’s case. The Egyptian-born former army officer is being sought by Egyptian authorities for YouTube videos he posted criticising the regime and advocating peaceful protests during the COP27 meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh. Both the American embassy in the UAE and Osman’s attorney stated that a Red Notice had been issued by Interpol against him at the request of Egypt, and that he had been arrested in Dubai pursuant to that listing. However, shortly after Stirling publicised the case, demonstrating the clear political motivation behind the arrest and extradition request, Interpol distanced itself from the matter. “Following our exposure of the case,” Stirling said,” Interpol announced that Sherif Osman is not subjected to a Red Notice and that any deportation proceedings must be carried out bilaterally between Egypt and the UAE. When I asked if they could confirm whether or not the Red Notice had been deleted, or had never been issued, I did not receive a reply. “It is noteworthy that Interpol contacted me about Sherif’s case within days of our publication; when the normal procedure for checking an individual's status on the Interpol database requires a formal request which takes weeks to process. This would not be the first time an international warrant has been surreptitiously removed once it has been determined to be political in nature; either way, we are happy to confirm that Sherif is not listed on the Interpol database at this point; however, relations between Egypt and the UAE are notably strong, and without intervention by the US government, his deportation remains dangerously likely.” Stirling warns that if Osman is extradited to Egypt his life will be in peril. “Roughly half of all prisoners in Egypt are political prisoners, and hundreds die in custody every year. Torture is routine and police and prison officials are completely unaccountable. Just two years ago American journalist Moustafa Kassem died in an Egyptian prison, and we are gravely concerned that the same will happen to Sherif without immediate and urgent involvement of the American government,” she cautioned. Radha Stirling has been the leading voice calling out Interpol abuse by countries like the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey; and has successfully lobbied for the removal of wrongful Red Notice listings for nearly 15 years. Her organisation, IPEX, also provides Interpol prevention services for clients who may be at risk of being subjected to an abusive listing. “A great deal of work still needs to be done, not only to address Interpol’s fairness, efficiency, and lack of transparency, but also with the international protocols governing extradition,” She explained, “Authoritarian countries, whether through manipulation of Interpol, or through bilateral relations, have created a de facto transnational jurisdiction that circumvents accepted standards of due process which puts anyone at risk who travels outside established democratic countries. This, essentially, is what we are seeing in Sheriff Osman’s case, and cases like his are precisely why reforms are needed.” Detained in Dubai: http://www.detainedindubai.org Detained in Doha: https://www.detainedindoha.org Radha Stirling: http://www.radhastirling.com CLAN - Crypto Legal Advocacy Network: https://www.bitclan.org/ Due Process International: http://www.dueprocess.international IPEX - Interpol & Extradition Reform & Defence Experts:} https://www.ipexreform.com/ Podcast: http://www.gulfinjustice.news Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/detainedindubai YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/detainedindubai Live news and updates on Telegram: https://t.me/stirlingnews mail: info@detainedindubai.org / WhatsApp/phone +447309114195

US citizen arrested in Dubai after exercising legal free speech in America American citizen and former army captain, Sherif Osman, has been detained in the UAE and faces extradition to Egypt over social media content he posted from his home in Westfield Massachusetts critical of Egyptian strongman Abdel-Fatah El-Sisi. Osman, 46, who is originally from Egypt, has lived in the United States for 16 years, spending most of this time in Texas where he graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He now owns a start-up company in Westfield and recently got engaged to be married. Because his family, including his disabled mother, still live in Egypt, Sherif and his fiancé arranged a trip to Dubai for everyone to meet. Sherif’s mother, however, was turned back from her flight on November 5th by Egyptian authorities and prevented from leaving the country without explanation. On November 6th, Sherif was stopped by a plainclothes detective outside a restaurant in Dubai and abruptly taken into custody. “Sherif has gained a moderate following on social media for his commentary about the political situation in Egypt,” explains Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai and Interpol and Extradition Reform (IPEX), an organization dedicated to combating Interpol abuse by undemocratic regimes globally, “He recently endorsed calls for a peaceful protest to take place on November 11th during the COP27 meeting in Egypt; and this, apparently earned him the wrath of the Egyptian government.” If Osman is extradited to Cairo, Stirling warns, he will almost certainly be subjected to torture and possibly death in detention, “The El-Sisi regime is notorious for its brutality towards political opponents, even the ousted former president died in custody,” she says, “It is absolutely appalling that an American citizen, who simply exercised his Constitutionally guaranteed free speech from his home in the United States, to criticise an authoritarian regime, and to advocate for peaceful protest; can be arrested in a foreign country for that criticism. This is almost a replay of the Saudi killing of Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey, except that Sherif is still alive, and the US has a chance to intervene before it is too late. “The UAE, along with Saudi Arabia, has bankrolled the El-Sisi government since the coup in 2013, and Egypt and the Emirates have had a symbiotic relationship politically and economically ever since. Sherif’s extradition is certain unless the US takes a stand.” There are currently some 60,000 political prisoners held in Egypt, with hundreds dying in custody every year. Inmates report being kept in filthy, overcrowded cells; being denied life-saving medication, and being subjected to torture repeatedly. “Approximately half of all inmates in Egyptian jail cells are political prisoners,” Stirling explains, “Thousands more are being detained without trial. Even without violent abuse by the police, the conditions of the jails are themselves life-threatening, which is not even mentioning the inhumane conditions and systematic torture that exists in UAE prisons. Sherif’s life is in danger in Dubai detention, and if the US allows his extradition, we fear that his fate will be sealed. We cannot forget that the UAE was an alleged accomplice in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi and the disposal of his body in 2018. Now we have another political dissident grabbed from the street in the Middle East for statements he made under the protection of the US Constitution, except in this case, Sherif Osman is an American citizen. Justice for Jamal Khashoggi Washington Post Journalist Having now passed 125 days since the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi by a Saudi hit squad in that country’s consulate in Istanbul. “According to Interpol’s own rules, Red Notices cannot be politically-motivated, and extradition for political dissent is prohibited. Egypt and the UAE are once again abusing the Interpol system to expand their jurisdictions, creating a kind of authoritarian axis. The current president of Interpol, Ahmed Nasser Al-Raisi, is himself a former high-ranking Emirati official accused of torture; so, immediate and forceful intervention by the United States government is the only hope Sherif has to regain his freedom. “We are reaching out to the American embassy in the UAE, and will be appealing to Sherif’s Senate and Congressional representatives as well, to urge their involvement in this outrageous case. Both the UAE and Egypt are American allies, and we expect the US government to secure Sherif’s release through urgent diplomatic intervention. There is no legal basis for his detention, and no grounds for his extradition; the Egyptian government does not get to punish Americans just because they don’t like what we say.” British man arrested in Egypt for ‘patting’ guard on back released from custody | Lancashire Telegraph An online petition calling for Tony Camoccio’s release received more than 5,000 signatures. Detained in Dubai: http://www.detainedindubai.org Detained in Doha: https://www.detainedindoha.org Radha Stirling: http://www.radhastirling.com CLAN - Crypto Legal Advocacy Network: https://www.bitclan.org/ Due Process International: http://www.dueprocess.international IPEX - Interpol & Extradition Reform & Defence Experts:} https://www.ipexreform.com/ Podcast: http://www.gulfinjustice.news Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/detainedindubai YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/detainedindubai Live news and updates on Telegram: https://t.me/stirlingnews mail: info@detainedindubai.org / WhatsApp/phone +447309114195

Brian was welcomed home this morning at Edinburgh’s airport in an emotional reunion with his loving family and friends. He was met by his mother, Meta; his wife, Kimberly; daughters Heidi and Lexi; and his brothers John and Lee at Edinburgh after returning to Scotland on a flight from Istanbul. Brian told reporters“I just didn’t think this time was coming anytime soon.” “I’m now back where I belong with my family and my friends. “It’s just the emotions. I didn’t think I was going to be here anytime soon.” He thanked all those who had supported him and worked to get him freed, including Interpol and extradition crisis manager Radha Stirling, and Douglas Chapman, the MP for Dunfermline and West Fife, who was also at the airport to greet him. “If it wasn’t for the support from everybody back home, my family and my friends, Douglas Chapman, Radha Stirling, I would still have been there,” Mr Glendinning said. “To be honest, I think I would have been on my way to Qatar and it wouldn’t have been for the World Cup. “It’s just time to get home and get to the barbers.” Stirling added “This is the moment we have been working towards the past five weeks and we’re incredibly relieved to see him back on UK soil. “Brian is going to take some time to rest and recuperate with his family before telling the world about the horrific experience he was forced to endure at the hands of Qatar, a country who has spent a fortune portraying itself as a tolerant society. “Once Brian has rested, we intend to push for British safeguards and to hold Qatar to account for the repeated abuse of our citizens”. World Cup visitors are urged to download "emergency help app" due to the volatility of Qatar law enforcement: Legal experts launch new App for emergency help at World Cup Due Process Newsroom & Media Centre Detained in Dubai launches new App for emergency help at World Cup iTunes and Google Play. Detained in Dubai: http://www.detainedindubai.org Detained in Doha: https://www.detainedindoha.org Radha Stirling: http://www.radhastirling.com CLAN - Crypto Legal Advocacy Network: https://www.bitclan.org/ Due Process International: http://www.dueprocess.international IPEX - Interpol & Extradition Reform & Defence Experts: https://www.ipexreform.com/ Podcast: http://www.gulfinjustice.news Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/detainedindubai YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/detainedindubai Live news and updates on Telegram: https://t.me/stirlingnews mail: info@detainedindubai.org / WhatsApp/phone +447309114195