@BenCAKeith of @5SAHLaw , alongside Rhys Davies of @TG_Chambers , has secured a finding from the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention that UK national Charles Ridley has been arbitrarily detained in the UAE for 17 years. The UN Working Group, established by the Commission on Human Rights to investigate cases of unlawful detention, has ruled that Mr. Ridley's detention is arbitrary and violates articles 9, 10, and 11 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Working Group concluded that his detention falls within Categories I and III, finding no legal basis for his continued imprisonment and identifying serious violations of due process and fair trial rights. The UAE authorities applied Law No. 37 of 2009 retroactively to Mr. Ridley, punishing him under legislation that came into force in December 2009 for alleged offences occurring years before the law came into effect. Mr. Ridley, a British businessman, was arrested in May 2008 during a visit to Dubai. In 2011, following a flawed trial, he was convicted of fraud offences and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment plus a $500 million fine. He completed his sentence in November 2015 but was not released. In May 2018, years after serving his full sentence, he was brought before a judge and subjected to an additional 20-year detention period under Law No. 37 of 2009. He was given no prior notice of this hearing, denied the right to make submissions, and his legal counsel was prevented from speaking. The Working Group has called on the UAE to release Mr. Ridley immediately and accord him an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations in accordance with international law. It has urged the government to ensure a full and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his arbitrary detention and to take appropriate measures against those responsible for the violation of his rights. The UAE government was given the opportunity to respond by the United Nations but declined to do so. Ben Keith commented: "The UN's findings are clear and comprehensive. Mr. Ridley has been imprisoned for 17 years, with the last decade having no lawful basis whatsoever. The UAE's refusal to even respond to the UN's inquiries speaks volumes. The international community must now exert pressure to secure his immediate release." To find out more, please click here: bit.ly/3Lit5Hq #HumanRights #InternationalLaw #UNWorkingGroup

Wednesday 5 Nov 2025: On the occasion of the IBA Annual Conference #IBAToronto, the IBA #HumanRights #Law Committee will host a screening of The Veto, a documentary about the use of veto power within the @UN Security Council. Register your attendance: ibanet.org/conference-detail…