Prime Minister Andy Burnham is facing pressure from over 60 MPs and peers to impose sanctions on United Arab Emirates (UAE) figures unless a 72-year-old British national is freed from a Dubai prison.
Ryan Cornelius has been incarcerated in Dubai's Central Prison for 18 years, a detention his supporters describe as arbitrary. The UN's Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has echoed these concerns, urging the UAE to release Cornelius and provide him with compensation for alleged human rights abuses. He was convicted in 2008 of fraud related to a £372 million loan to his business from the Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB).
In a letter sent to Prime Minister Burnham, Conservative MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith urged the British government to formally request Cornelius's release by December 2, coinciding with UAE National Day, presenting an opportunity for clemency.
"After 18 years in prison, private representations by the British Government are demonstrably not working," the letter states. "We therefore ask the Government to take the following steps." The lawmakers proposed targeted sanctions against individuals responsible for Cornelius's prolonged detention, specifically mentioning the former Chairman of the Dubai Islamic Bank, Mohammad Ibrahim Al Shaibani. The letter also demanded public explanation from the government if it chooses not to impose sanctions.
Cornelius, arrested in 2008, denies the fraud charges. His 10-year sentence was extended by 20 years in 2018, setting his release date for May 2038, when he would be 84 years old. His family fears he may not survive that long.
His wife, Heather Cornelius, stated that British governments have "played along" with the alleged injustice for over 18 years, prioritizing economic ties with the UAE over her husband's freedom. She expressed a desire for direct action to bring him home.
During his imprisonment, Cornelius, 72, has reportedly suffered from declining health, including contracting COVID-19 twice, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, borderline diabetes, and untreated tuberculosis for 18 months.
The Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign, founded by financier Bill Browder, has taken up Cornelius's case, calling it a "complete travesty of justice." Browder suggested that Al Shaibani's recent resignation as DIB chairman opens a window for the UAE government to grant clemency.
In a parliamentary debate, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband publicly agreed that Ryan Cornelius should be released, marking a shift from previous government responses. "It is something we are discussing with our UAE counterparts, and the role of Alistair Burt is also going to be important in this. We do want to see their release. Absolutely," Miliband stated.
The Cornelius family has long advocated for clemency during UAE National Day and other religious holidays. They claim the DIB seized all their assets, including London properties, leaving Heather Cornelius homeless.
According to a UAE government spokesperson, all due processes were followed in Cornelius's trial, and his sentence extension was lawful. The spokesperson also stated that prisoners receive necessary medical care and that the UAE judicial system is independent and equitable, guaranteeing access to translators and legal counsel. An FCDO spokesperson confirmed that the UK government continues to raise Cornelius’s case with UAE authorities and provides consular support.