Ten years after forming Detained in Dubai to support foreign visitors and residents suffering human and civil rights abuses in the United Arab Emirates, CEO Radha Stirling has emerged as the leading international expert on the UAE legal system, and a successful campaigner for justice in dozens of high profile cases.
Detained in Dubai has taken on and won a huge amount of cases involving British nationals unjustly accused, detained, or sought for extradition to the Gulf state. Recently the organisation’s work has expanded to include similar issues in Qatar, particularly cases pertaining to commercial and civil disputes.
This week, Radha’s work brings her to London to appear at the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) in a hearing to support two Detained in Dubai clients. She will be submitting both written and oral testimony detailing the rampant legal abuses in the UAE criminal justice system, and highlighting the unreliability of judicial verdicts issued by Emirati courts.
While in London, Radha has been requested to attend a meeting of the UK parliament to discuss ongoing cases and the state of human rights and legal failings in the UAE and Qatar. She will also take the opportunity to personally meet several Detained in Dubai clients and their families living in the UK.
One of Ms Stirling's aims is to highlight the ongoing plight of Asa Hutchinson, the young woman from Essex, UK, who witnessed a fight outside a bar in Dubai and was then unfairly linked with the scuffle She now faces charges of assault.
A Detained in Dubai staff member is appearing on behalf of Stirling this week in Geneva where he will be giving a speech on torture in Dubai prisons and presenting an update on Human Rights abuse within the UAE.
Radha's speech is a part of an event related to the UPR (Universal Periodic Review) which seeks to examine the human rights records of all member countries. At this session 14 countries will have their records examined, including the United Arab Emirates.
In a statement, former clients (and now supporters of Detained In Dubai) extended their congratulations to Radha Stirling. “This year, January 27th marks 10 years of Detained in Dubai. Radha helped exonerate her first client, Cat le-Huy, who had been detained on fabricated charges, and soon thereafter launched an organisation that has literally saved thousands of expats from unjust prosecution and detention in the UAE over the past decade.
“Every day, dozens of clients come forward to seek help and advice on often heartbreaking situations. Respect for the reputation of Detained in Dubai has grown as well as for Radha personally, whose tireless dedication and hard work, have made her name synonymous with legal expertise on the UAE."