A British nationwide arrested in Saudi Arabia on prices that seem to narrate to a deleted tweet has been jailed for 10 years, in keeping with British legal professionals and marketing campaign teams representing the household.
Ahmed al-Doush was arrested in August and, whereas it’s understood that UK International Workplace officers have been allowed into the Saudi court docket for his listening to, the British authorities has been criticised for a scarcity of motion since his arrest.
Jeed Basyouni, who leads the human rights group Reprieve’s work to cease using the demise penalty, mentioned: “That is what can occur when the UK authorities fails to face up for the rights of its residents arbitrarily detained abroad.
“A British man was kidnapped in entrance of his household and disappeared right into a Saudi jail on prices unknown, and for eight months the International Workplace did not do what was wanted and search his launch.
“When a British nationwide is convicted and sentenced to 10 years in jail and neither his household nor his lawyer nor the International Workplace know of what crime he has been accused one thing has gone very badly mistaken.”
She added: “It will be farcical if it was not a tragedy for this household who’ve been badly let down by the federal government.”
A authorities particular envoy for British nationals arbitrarily detained abroad has but to be appointed.
Doush’s spouse, Amaher Nour, primarily based in Manchester, has 4 youngsters together with one born whereas her husband was detained in Saudi Arabia. She was given temporary information of his prolonged sentence by the lawyer appointed to him by the Saudi authorities.
International Workplace officers on the listening to have been in a position to cross information of the sentence to Doush’s British legal professionals, it’s understood.
Haydee Dijkstal, a barrister at 33 Bedford Row chambers and the worldwide counsel for Doush, mentioned: “On-line expression, even when expressing concern or criticism of a authorities, shouldn’t be criminalised or result in detention and imprisonment. Utilizing anti-terrorism laws to punish and repress on-line expression on social media with extreme jail sentences is inconsistent with worldwide regulation and human rights requirements.”
Talking earlier than the sentence, Nour mentioned: “I not often communicate to my husband however within the few snatched conversations we’ve got managed it’s clear that Ahmed is struggling.
“He has thyroid issues and is laid low with psychological misery. He worries about his household significantly as he was the only breadwinner. He missed the beginning of our fourth baby and our 10-year wedding ceremony anniversary.
“As a result of Ahmed is a British citizen we anticipated the UK to offer readability amid a storm of uncertainty. However the International Workplace refused to share info with me for months – citing information safety – whereas on the similar time accepting assurances from Saudi Arabia at face worth.”
The International Workplace has additionally mentioned the Center East minister, Hamish Falconer, had raised the case a number of occasions with Saudi officers however Nour mentioned she had been refused a gathering with the international secretary, David Lammy.
Her husband had obtained solely three consular visits since he was imprisoned in August.
She mentioned: “We expect Ahmed is being charged for a tweet he posted seven years in the past and subsequently deleted.
“Ahmed has been sleeping in an overcrowded cell that’s filthy. My husband is a devoted household man who’s dedicated to his youngsters, spending weekends taking them to eating places and the park. They’re distraught and are continuously asking when he will likely be again. I not know how you can reply their questions.
“For me the night-time is an empty void the place I query time and again why this has occurred to us.
“What Ahmed has endured over the previous eight months is tortuous extended solitary confinement, unclear prices, a pressured confession and extreme surveillance by jail authorities all managed by a powerless state-appointed authorized counsel.”
