United Nations human rights experts have called for the immediate release of British businessman Ryan Cornelius, who has been detained in Dubai for 18 years. The experts from the Office of the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights stated that Cornelius completed his original prison sentence in 2018 but remains incarcerated following a 20-year sentence extension imposed under proceedings they described as having "serious judicial irregularities."
The UN warned that if Cornelius is not freed soon, his continued detention "will become a death sentence," a concern amplified by his age of 72 and deteriorating health. He is reportedly suffering from high cholesterol, hypertension, has contracted COVID-19 twice, and had untreated tuberculosis for 18 months.
Cornelius, a respected property developer who built a construction company over two decades in Saudi Arabia, was arrested in May 2008 at Dubai airport while changing planes en route to his home in Bahrain. He was subsequently convicted of ‘theft from a state body’ after taking out a $500 million loan from the Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) for a large-scale equestrian and polo club project called The Plantation. This project, independently valued at over $1 billion, was later renamed The Acres and is reportedly valued at $3 billion under the control of Dubai's ruler.
His initial ten-year sentence was extended by an additional 20 years just before his scheduled release in 2018, with authorities claiming he had failed to repay the creditor. The UN experts emphasized that international law prohibits jailing individuals to collect civil debts.
Sir William Browder, founder of the Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign, has been involved in efforts to free Cornelius for four years. He asserts that Cornelius is a victim of a "draconian and corrupt Middle Eastern legal system" and that the true reason for his continued imprisonment is "greed," with his business assets allegedly seized by powerful interests.
Cornelius's family has maintained contact through daily phone calls. His youngest child was six years old when he was first jailed and is now 25. His wife, Heather, holds an Irish passport, leading to intervention from the Irish government.
British politicians have faced criticism for their perceived inaction. The UN's intervention is noted as a step that successive British governments have failed to take. Browder specifically criticized former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, a former human rights lawyer, for not taking meaningful action, and suggested current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak needs "political will" to address the situation. Browder called for public demands for Cornelius's release and the potential use of Britain's Magnitsky sanctions legislation against individuals involved in Cornelius's detention and asset seizure.
The European Parliament has passed a resolution demanding Cornelius's release, and 146 British parliamentarians signed an open letter advocating for the same. The article suggests that British ministers may prioritize Emirati investment in London over the freedom of its citizens, a stance that Browder argues is a "disgraceful" dereliction of duty.
