British politician Ed Miliband is now publicly advocating for the release of Ryan Cornelius, a 72-year-old British national who has been imprisoned in the United Arab Emirates for 18 years. Miliband's intervention marks a significant shift as Cornelius's detention in Dubai's central prison, famously nicknamed 'Alcatraz,' has been labeled 'arbitrary and outrageous' by fellow Members of Parliament.
Cornelius was arrested in Dubai in 2008 and accused of defrauding the Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) of $500 million, which he denies. He was initially sentenced to 10 years but received an additional 20-year sentence in 2018 following a closed-door hearing. Human rights advocates and the United Nations have criticized the UAE's judicial system, citing "serious judicial irregularities" and describing it as "draconian and corrupt."
Despite the UAE constitution stipulating that individuals over 70 should not be incarcerated, Cornelius's pleas for release have reportedly been denied. His family fears he may die in prison, particularly given his deteriorating health, which includes contracting tuberculosis and COVID-19 twice, as well as suffering from borderline diabetes.
Miliband's public statement follows previous, largely unanswered, appeals from Cornelius's family to the UK government, including former Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. Cornelius's wife, Heather, expressed disappointment with the British government's inaction over the past 18 years, stating that their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
"The Foreign Office 'just ignored Ryan's case for 14 years' because 'it suited them to believe Dubai's version of events'," stated Chris Paggett, Cornelius's brother-in-law, who previously worked for the Foreign Office for 32 years. He added that the British government has "never even bothered to reply" to their letters.
Human rights campaigner Sir William Browder has called Cornelius "yet another victim of a draconian and corrupt Middle Eastern legal system." The UN has also declared his detention arbitrary and called for his immediate release, with concerns raised about potential torture during his imprisonment.
Cornelius's arrest in 2008 occurred as he was changing flights in Dubai. He was detained and interrogated for hours without access to legal counsel or the British Embassy before the accusations shifted from drug possession to fraud related to a loan for a luxury development project known as The Plantation.
Authorities seized Cornelius's business assets and properties, leaving his family displaced. The land intended for The Plantation has since been renamed 'The Acres' and is being developed by a Dubai Holdings real estate company. His family accuses the Gulf state of prolonging his incarceration to prevent him from mounting any legal challenges.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) stated: "The UK Government continues to raise Mr Cornelius' case with the UAE authorities and is providing ongoing consular support to him and his family."