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| Dubai torture claims: relatives hope for pardon of jailed Britons | Dubai torture claims: relatives hope for pardon of jailed Britons |
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| The parents of one of the three British men jailed in Dubai on Monday for possession of synthetic cannabis after they said they had been tortured are confident the trio will be pardoned by the president of the United Arab Emirates, who begins a state visit to the UK on Tuesday. | The parents of one of the three British men jailed in Dubai on Monday for possession of synthetic cannabis after they said they had been tortured are confident the trio will be pardoned by the president of the United Arab Emirates, who begins a state visit to the UK on Tuesday. |
| Grant Cameron and Suneet Jeerh, both 25, and Karl Williams, 26, claim they were subjected to electric shocks during a police investigation into their alleged possession of a drug called spice while in the Gulf state. David Cameron has promised to raise the case with Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan when they meet on Wednesday. | Grant Cameron and Suneet Jeerh, both 25, and Karl Williams, 26, claim they were subjected to electric shocks during a police investigation into their alleged possession of a drug called spice while in the Gulf state. David Cameron has promised to raise the case with Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan when they meet on Wednesday. |
| The men, sentenced to four years each, say they also had guns held to their heads before signing documents in Arabic that they did not understand. Williams described having a towel put on his face by police and having electric shocks on his testicles, according to Reprieve, the human rights charity. Jeerh said he was punched, slapped and given electric shocks. | The men, sentenced to four years each, say they also had guns held to their heads before signing documents in Arabic that they did not understand. Williams described having a towel put on his face by police and having electric shocks on his testicles, according to Reprieve, the human rights charity. Jeerh said he was punched, slapped and given electric shocks. |
| A Foreign Office spokesman said diplomats had received "some details of a UAE investigation" and were "concerned about aspects of this and were formally raising these with the Emirati authorities". The UAE denies torturing the trio. | A Foreign Office spokesman said diplomats had received "some details of a UAE investigation" and were "concerned about aspects of this and were formally raising these with the Emirati authorities". The UAE denies torturing the trio. |
| Local lawyers for the convicted men, who were on holiday in Dubai in July last year when police found the drug in their car, have begun the process of requesting a pardon or commutation of sentence through the ruler's court. "The sheikh won't want to be seen to cave in immediately to pressure but I am sure a deal will be done at some point," said a diplomatic source in the Emirates. | Local lawyers for the convicted men, who were on holiday in Dubai in July last year when police found the drug in their car, have begun the process of requesting a pardon or commutation of sentence through the ruler's court. "The sheikh won't want to be seen to cave in immediately to pressure but I am sure a deal will be done at some point," said a diplomatic source in the Emirates. |
| In a country where possession of drugs can result in 25-year jail terms, the sentencing was considered relatively lenient by some observers, amid speculation it was modified in the light of the state visit. The UK government has made boosting inward investment from the UAE a strategic priority and last week the London mayor, Boris Johnson, described himself as "mayor of the eighth emirate" while on a trade mission to Dubai. | In a country where possession of drugs can result in 25-year jail terms, the sentencing was considered relatively lenient by some observers, amid speculation it was modified in the light of the state visit. The UK government has made boosting inward investment from the UAE a strategic priority and last week the London mayor, Boris Johnson, described himself as "mayor of the eighth emirate" while on a trade mission to Dubai. |
| "I am very positive that all three boys will receive a pardon," Grant's mother, Tracey Cameron, told BBC Radio 5 Live. "Each Ramadan, the UAE president does pardon detainees and we are very hopeful the three boys will be part of that pardon. David Cameron is in discussions with the UAE president and I am very hopeful he will raise these concerns. The sheikh has it in his power to grant an immediate pardon if he so chooses." | "I am very positive that all three boys will receive a pardon," Grant's mother, Tracey Cameron, told BBC Radio 5 Live. "Each Ramadan, the UAE president does pardon detainees and we are very hopeful the three boys will be part of that pardon. David Cameron is in discussions with the UAE president and I am very hopeful he will raise these concerns. The sheikh has it in his power to grant an immediate pardon if he so chooses." |
| In a letter to Reprieve prior to sentencing, Cameron said the UK government's "concerns about the allegations of torture … have been repeatedly raised with the Emirati authorities, including by the foreign secretary and [Foreign Office minister] Alistair Burt." He added: "We continue to press for evidence of a full, impartial and independent investigation." | In a letter to Reprieve prior to sentencing, Cameron said the UK government's "concerns about the allegations of torture … have been repeatedly raised with the Emirati authorities, including by the foreign secretary and [Foreign Office minister] Alistair Burt." He added: "We continue to press for evidence of a full, impartial and independent investigation." |
| The sentences, handed down for "consumption" rather than the more serious crime of supply, came as a relief to family members and the men, who had originally been told by British consular staff they could face capital punishment. | The sentences, handed down for "consumption" rather than the more serious crime of supply, came as a relief to family members and the men, who had originally been told by British consular staff they could face capital punishment. |
| "Four years, considering the situation, is a positive start," said Grant's father, Phil Cameron. "We are going to get our son back." | "Four years, considering the situation, is a positive start," said Grant's father, Phil Cameron. "We are going to get our son back." |
| Savita Jeerh, mother of Suneet Jeerh, said: "This has been very devastating for all three families and the fact it has taken this long to come to an end, it has been an ordeal for everyone of us. I feel there needs to be a full investigation. This is probably one case out of many and the government needs to be aware of the extremes of torture that goes on." | Savita Jeerh, mother of Suneet Jeerh, said: "This has been very devastating for all three families and the fact it has taken this long to come to an end, it has been an ordeal for everyone of us. I feel there needs to be a full investigation. This is probably one case out of many and the government needs to be aware of the extremes of torture that goes on." |
| Kate Higham, Reprieve's investigator, said: "The central fact of this case remains that these men were tortured by police, but there has been no proper investigation into their abuse. The only reasonable course of action for the UAE authorities now is to grant them clemency." | Kate Higham, Reprieve's investigator, said: "The central fact of this case remains that these men were tortured by police, but there has been no proper investigation into their abuse. The only reasonable course of action for the UAE authorities now is to grant them clemency." |
| There is growing concern in the international legal community at how courts in the United Arab Emirates are allowing evidence obtained under torture. Rori Donaghy, campaign manager at the Emirates Centre for Human Rights, which operates from London, claimed torture was "systematic in state security facilities", although it was rare for western prisoners to claim they had been tortured. | There is growing concern in the international legal community at how courts in the United Arab Emirates are allowing evidence obtained under torture. Rori Donaghy, campaign manager at the Emirates Centre for Human Rights, which operates from London, claimed torture was "systematic in state security facilities", although it was rare for western prisoners to claim they had been tortured. |
| He questioned how far the UK government would be willing to push the UAE over the issue given the desire to boost trade with the wealthy emirates. "The UAE uses deals to protect themselves from challenges," he said. "If Cameron was bold he would say to them that the path taken by other leaders overthrown in the Arab spring is the path they are taking now." | He questioned how far the UK government would be willing to push the UAE over the issue given the desire to boost trade with the wealthy emirates. "The UAE uses deals to protect themselves from challenges," he said. "If Cameron was bold he would say to them that the path taken by other leaders overthrown in the Arab spring is the path they are taking now." |
| Leading lawyers have also been highly critical of a trial of 94 defendants, including judges, lawyers, academics and student leaders, accused of plotting to overthrow the government. | Leading lawyers have also been highly critical of a trial of 94 defendants, including judges, lawyers, academics and student leaders, accused of plotting to overthrow the government. |
| Ketil Lund, a commissioner of the International Commission of Jurists and a former supreme court judge in Norway, said the defendants had been subject to "severe beatings, prolonged solitary confinement, sleep deprivation, exposure to extreme cold, the denial of necessary medical treatment, administration of hallucinogenic drugs, and prolonged interrogation (of up to five days)". | Ketil Lund, a commissioner of the International Commission of Jurists and a former supreme court judge in Norway, said the defendants had been subject to "severe beatings, prolonged solitary confinement, sleep deprivation, exposure to extreme cold, the denial of necessary medical treatment, administration of hallucinogenic drugs, and prolonged interrogation (of up to five days)". |
| He said: "Instead of investigating these allegations, the UAE authorities are using coerced 'confessions', which result from such practices, as evidence against the defendants in court, and are going ahead with a trial that blatantly violates numerous international standards." | He said: "Instead of investigating these allegations, the UAE authorities are using coerced 'confessions', which result from such practices, as evidence against the defendants in court, and are going ahead with a trial that blatantly violates numerous international standards." |
| Geoffrey Robertson QC led a delegation to observe the case last month but they were blocked from entering the court. "The UAE authorities, if they are to avoid breaching universal human rights standards, must immediately open this trial up to international observation so justice can be seen to be done and it can be determined whether the long-detained defendants are dangerous, or whether they are being silenced merely for seeking political reforms in an undemocratic state," Robertson said. | Geoffrey Robertson QC led a delegation to observe the case last month but they were blocked from entering the court. "The UAE authorities, if they are to avoid breaching universal human rights standards, must immediately open this trial up to international observation so justice can be seen to be done and it can be determined whether the long-detained defendants are dangerous, or whether they are being silenced merely for seeking political reforms in an undemocratic state," Robertson said. |
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