February monthly update

Hearing on Ryan Cornelius's case

• On Wednesday 12th February, the All Party Parliamentary Group on Arbitrary Detention and Hostage Affairs held a hearing on the case of British citizen Ryan Cornelius, arbitrarily detained in the United Arab Emirates, for the last seventeen years, as part of its inquiry into British citizens arbitrarily detained by foreign Governments. Testifying before the APPG Vice-Chairs Baroness Helena Kennedy LT KC, Brendan O’Hara MP and Members Lord Clement-Jones, Baroness Brinton, Phil Brickell MP and Blair Mcdougall MP, were witnesses Chriss Paggett – brother-in-law of Ryan Cornelius -, Sir Bill Browder KCMG – Head of the Global Magnitsky Justice Center and campaigner for Ryan Cornelius -, and Joey Shea - Researcher in the Middle East and North Africa Division of Human Rights Watch.

• Witnesses spoke of the lack of comprehensive response to Ryan Cornelius’ detention, even after the ruling of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in 2018 that he was being held arbitrarily, and following the failed application for his release after he turned 70 years old, which is required under Dubai Law. While the Government has supported an application for clemency, his release has not been called for publicly at a Ministerial level as he enters his seventeenth year in prison.

• Witnesses highlighted the urgency of the UK Government using the Global Human Rights Sanctions regime to hold accountable those individuals responsible for Ryan Cornelius’ ongoing arbitrary detention, especially in light of the significant assets held in the UK by the Head of the Dubai Islamic Bank, ultimately responsible for Ryan’s ongoing detention, and who is also Head of Dubai’s Courts.

Questions in the House

• Following the hearing into the case of Ryan Cornelius, APPG Vice-Chair Baroness Helena Kennedy LT KC raised his case and the need for further accountability through the use of targeted sanctions against officials in the UAE responsible for his ongoing arbitrary detention in a series of written parliamentary questions:

  • Read here, here, and here.

APPG in the news

• APPG Chair Alicia Kearns MP spoke to The Times and BBC Radio Four regarding the news of two British citizens being detained in Iran. Read here. And watch here.