London, UK: Tortured British Grandfather FREED from Dubai jail and Home for Christmas
63 year old tortured grandfather, Albert Douglas, arrives home for Christmas after 4 years in a brutal Dubai jail that left him with broken bones and head injuries.
Detained in Dubai brought his case before Parliament, the FCDO and the United Nations. The UN ruled he had been arbitrarily detained for over 4 years and that he should be released and compensated.
London grandfather Albert Douglas was arrested on 17 December 2021, then beaten and tortured by Emirati prison guards. He suffered serious injuries, including multiple fractures and broken bones. His ordeal has finally come to an end after four hellish years, from which he will never fully recover physically, emotionally, or financially.
Radha Stirling, the founder of Detained in Dubai announced the news on X. She is relieved Mr Douglas is finally safe.
“Albert arrived safely home to London on Friday the 19th of December, ending four years of arbitrary detention and abuse. During those four years, his case had been raised in Parliament, discussed by Prime Minister Liz Truss, MP’s and members of the House of Lords while simultaneously being neglected by the FCDO.
UNITED NATIONS
“I brought his case before the United Nations Working Group for Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) which, after a lengthy and complex investigation, deemed Mr Douglas had indeed been arbitrarily detained and that he should be released and compensated by the UAE. His case was further referred to the Special Rapporteur on Torture. Dubai then decided to finally release Albert Douglas who had been turned into a financial hostage.
“I am extremely pleased to have spoken with Albert on his arrival in London on Friday. I have come to know Albert and his family well over the years. He is the sweetest, most caring gentleman and he did not deserve this hell. He and his family are overjoyed to reunite and I couldn’t be more pleased. Had it not been for the ongoing interventions and our lobbying, I have absolutely no doubt that Albert would have been detained indefinitely and would certainly die in prison. There were times when we doubted they would let him out alive. It’s been an emotional rollercoaster for everyone involved and a truly great relief to have him home”.
SUCCESS MAKES YOU A TARGET
Albert was a successful entrepreneur and Dubai expat and that made him a target according to Ms Stirling who testified that "success makes you a target” in the UAE. “A mere allegation is sufficient to put you in jail and extortion is commonplace”. Detained in Dubai has helped in over 25000 cases spanning two decades. “Individuals who know how to work the system will make false complaints against high net worth targets then demand money to drop the case. This is exactly what happened to Albert Douglas. His Dubai assets were frozen and seized and his family were told to pay up if they wanted him home. He was extorted.
TORTURE
“It’s important to recognise that Albert was detained, beaten and tortured over a false and easily disproved allegation and that this could happen to anyone. Doing business in Dubai puts entrepreneurs at great risk but the FCDO’s warnings are completely insufficient and when Brits become targets, the government is reluctant to help. They don’t want to upset their trade deals and foreign investment. It’s outrageous, especially when we have innocent people like Albert treated like human garbage. It’s almost unbearable to imagine what Albert has been through. I’ve seen the US, Canadian and Irish governments get involved and help their citizens facing extreme injustices but the British government has been ostensibly unwilling, especially with the new administration.
RISKS TO ENTREPRENEURS
“Albert has been through so much and the truth of what happened to him should disturb every entrepreneur, influencer, businessman and celebrity who are the targets of a mass media campaign by the UAE to attract them. Dubai claims it is a safe, free and modern society but it wasn’t safe for Albert Douglas and it hasn’t been safe for the thousands of others we have helped over the years. They don’t want you to know the truth and nor do most governments”.
Stirling confirms the United Nations has essentially exonerated Albert Douglas and his entire family and suggested he be compensated by the UAE government, but Stirling says “no amount of money can take away the physical abuse and the life altering emotional trauma that has affected the whole family.
FCDO INQUIRY
“It is time for an inquiry into why the FCDO is failing in their duty of care to warn and to protect British citizens, and what the government is doing to ensure British citizens are no longer subject to human rights abuses and torture in the prisons of our allies. Albert Doulgas is not the first British citizen to be tortured at the hands of our allies but we absolutely need to make sure he is the last. Albert was very nearly another fatality and if immediate changes are not made, there will be more blood on their hands”.
