A man has shared his harrowing experience of being violently assaulted by law enforcement and deprived of food while seeking water in an unsanitary external restroom following his arrest in Dubai.
Albert Douglas was mistakenly imprisoned for debts that were not his, enduring a traumatic ordeal that involved witnessing brutal incidents and enduring torture by guards. After spending more than four years in a maximum-security Dubai prison, he was eventually released and reunited with his family in the UK for the holidays, as confirmed by Radha Stirling, the founder of Detained in Dubai.
Albert has now recounted the horrors he faced during his imprisonment for a fraud case stemming from his involvement in his son Wolfgang’s business licensing process. Despite not being explicitly named in the paperwork, Albert was held accountable for the business’s debts, leading to his incarceration and a significant fine.
Returning to the UK in mid-December, Albert expressed deep remorse for leaving behind fellow inmates who remain incarcerated with bleak prospects for release. The United Nations recognized the unjust nature of Mr. Douglas’ imprisonment and called for his freedom and compensation from the UAE, with his case also reaching the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture.
Reflecting on his time in prison, Albert shared how he grappled with despair and isolation, relying on thoughts of his family to persevere through the hardships. His physical and mental well-being deteriorated significantly during his detention, with his weight dropping substantially and enduring severe mistreatment by authorities.
Following failed attempts to challenge his conviction and flee the country, Albert was subjected to further physical abuse, sustaining injuries and enduring inhumane conditions in detention facilities. He witnessed disturbing incidents of abuse and neglect of fellow inmates, further highlighting the harsh realities of his imprisonment.
Upon his release, Radha Stirling of Detained in Dubai expressed relief at Albert’s safe return to London, emphasizing the relentless efforts made to secure his freedom amidst bureaucratic challenges and international advocacy.
At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions.