Matthew Hedges
On Monday 9th June, the All Party Parliamentary Group on Arbitrary Detention and Hostage Affairs held a hearing on the case of British citizen Matthew Hedges, formerly arbitrarily detained and tortured in the UAE for seven months, as part of its inquiry into British citizens arbitrarily detained by foreign Governments.
Testifying before the APPG Vice-Chairs Tim Roca MP and Baroness Helena Kennedy LT KC, were witnesses Matthew Hedges, Daniela Tajeda – wife of Matthew and campaigner on his behalf -, Rodney Dixon KC – Matthew’s Barrister -, and Professor Clive Jones - Professor of Regional Security at Durham University, and PHD Supervisor of Matthew.
Witnesses spoke of the lack of urgent response from the UK Government to the arbitrary arrest and detention of Matthew Hedges which resulted in his seven month long detention. Had the Foreign Minister intervened sooner, this could have been prevented. Witnesses also highlighted the lack of support received since returning home to the UK in clearing Matthew’s name, despite assertions from the FCDO of his innocence, and the lack of support in providing psychological support despite knowledge of the torture he was subjected to. Matthew Hedges noted that the FCDO has not sufficiently supported him in having his name cleared for espionage, and that he is still stopped every time he goes through the airport in the UK.
Witnesses also highlighted the need for fundamental policy shifts to prevent more British citizens being held arbitrarily. They called for the appointment of the Special Envoy on Arbitrary Detention and Hostage Taking - a commitment made by this Government - to be someone of significant stature to be able to carry out negotiations to secure release, and with the required remit to address this prevalent issue of the arbitrary detention and torture of British nationals.
Ahmed al-Doush
On Monday 16th June, the All Party Parliamentary Group on Arbitrary Detention and Hostage Affairs held a hearing on the case of British citizen Ahmed al-Doush, arbitrarily detained in Saudi Arabia, as part of its inquiry into British citizens arbitrarily detained by foreign Governments.
Testifying before the APPG Vice-Chair Tim Roca MP and APPG Member Baroness Brinton were witnesses Haydee Dijkstal – Barrister at 33 Bedford Row and Counsel for Ahmed al-Doush -, Dan Dolan - Interim Deputy Executive Director at Reprieve -, and Eilidh Macpherson - Campaigner Manager for Individuals at Risk, Amnesty International.
Witnesses spoke of the lack of urgent response from the UK Government to the arbitrary arrest and detention of Ahmed al-Doush, which has now resulted in his sentencing for ten years imprisonment on charges under Saudi Arabia’s Anit-Terrorism legislation for social media posts which have not been disclosed. Witnesses noted how his case mirrors and falls within a well-documented pattern in Saudi Arabia of prosecutions before the Specialised Criminal Court under terrorism charges and resulting in severe penalties, even the death penalty, for peaceful use of social media and the right to free expression. Witnesses called for the UK Government to publicly take a stance that he is being arbitrarily detained - due to his detention being based on the exercise of his right to free expression and the severe violation of his fair trial rights as identified in international law - and call for his immediate release.
Witnesses also highlighted the lack of support received to the family, who were not provided any updates on his case for the first two and a half months of his detention due to British officials being refused consular access, and therefore not being able to secure consent under GDPR to share information with his wife. The hearing highlighted the need for a policy shift in the UK to ensure support to families where consular access is refused, and a firmer stance from the UK Government to respond to refusals of consular access to British nationals abroad, as guaranteed under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
Read more information here: www.hostagesappg.co.uk/post/press-briefing-on-appg-hearing-on-ahmed-al-doush
