GENEVA - UN experts* today called for the immediate release of 72-year-old British businessman Ryan Cornelius, warning that his continued detention in the United Arab Emirates, despite having completed his original sentence, risked his health and life.
"We call on the Emirati Government to release Mr. Cornelius without delay," the experts said. "He completed his original prison sentence in 2018. Yet he remains behind bars following a 20-year extension imposed in proceedings marred by serious judicial irregularities. His detention has already been found to be arbitrary by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention."
Cornelius was arrested in May 2008 in connection with a financing dispute in Dubai. He was convicted in 2011 and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. Shortly before completing that sentence in March 2018, his imprisonment was reportedly extended by a further 20 years on the basis of an alleged outstanding debt. The experts said the circumstances of the extension raised serious concerns as civil proceedings in Bahrain reportedly found in 2020 that assets and payments transferred to the lender had fully discharged Cornelius' indebtedness and exceeded the amount due.
"International human rights law rejects the notion that one can be imprisoned to enforce a civil debt," they said.
The experts expressed alarm at reports that Cornelius' physical and mental health has continued to deteriorate. "Given his age, the length of his detention, his deteriorating health and reports of inadequate medical care and poor conditions, urgent action must be taken to avoid irreparable harm."
They stressed that while Cornelius remains deprived of his liberty, Emirati authorities have a heightened duty of care to protect his life and health and to ensure that he is treated with humanity and respect for his dignity.
The experts also expressed concern about reports that Cornelius was held in solitary confinement for approximately seven weeks and recalled that prolonged solitary confinement exceeding 15 consecutive days may amount to torture. They further noted reports that he had been detained in overcrowded conditions, with inadequate nutrition and very limited opportunities for exercise, and was allegedly pressured into signing documents stating that his human rights were being respected.
"Emirati authorities must take immediate steps to ensure that Cornelius receives appropriate medical care and must remove, without further delay, any remaining obstacles to his release," the experts said.
The experts have been in contact with the Governments of the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom regarding this case, urging them to find a diplomatic resolution to end Cornelius' suffering.
