Three Brits tortured by Dubai police

February 20, 2013

Three British men who were on holiday in Dubai were subjected to torture including beatings and electric shocks by the country’s police force following their arrest last summer, it has emerged.

Grant Cameron (25) and Karl Williams (25), both from London, and Suneet Jeerh (25), from Essex, are still being held in the UAE on drugs charges, over seven months on from their ordeal.

The men signed documents in Arabic – a language none of them understands – after being subjected to beatings, threatened by having guns put to their heads, and, in the case of Mr Williams, having electric shocks administered to the testicles.

Their accounts of their treatment are detailed in draft witness statements, drawn up by Reprieve lawyer Marc Calcutt following conversations with the three men in Dubai.

The torture took place in the desert, where the men were initially taken after their arrest, and subsequently in a hotel room.

Karl Williams’ statement describes how he was tortured in the hotel:

“I remember that the police put a towel on my face so I could not see. They kept telling me I was going to die. I was so scared. Once I had been knocked to the ground, the police picked me up and put me on the bed. They pulled down my trousers, spread my legs and started to electrocute my testicles. It was unbelievably painful. I was so scared. Then they took off the towel and I could see that there was a gun pointed at my head. All I could think was that the gun in my face could go off if the policeman slipped, and it would kill me. I started to believe that I was going to die in that room.”

The men were arrested on 10 July 2012 by police who claimed to have found a quantity of a synthetic cannabis known as ‘spice’ in their car. They have plead not guilty to the charges, and will appear at their first hearing on Thursday 21 February.

Marc Calcutt said: “The idea that young British tourists on holiday can find themselves arrested and tortured in this way is truly appalling. Being electrocuted in the testicles is about as brutal a torture as can be imagined. The Dubai authorities need to immediately drop the charges against the men and conduct an independent investigation into how these terrible events occurred. If they do not, I am sure this story will linger in people’s memories – particularly when it comes to booking their holidays.”

ENDS

1. For further information, please contact Donald Campbell in Reprieve’s press office: +44 (0) 207 553 8166 / 07791 755 415 / donald.campbell [AT] reprieve.org.uk

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