What changed

B100340/2025

European Parliament resolution on the case of Ryan Cornelius in Dubai

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on case of Ryan Cornelius in Dubai

(2025/2796(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to theOpinion UniversalNo Declaration19/2022 of Humanthe RightsUnited (UDHR),Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD),

having regard to the Opinion No. 19/2022 of the United Nations (UN) Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) concerning Ryan Cornelius,

– having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

whereasA. Misterwhereas Ryan Cornelius, a 71-year-old British national married to an EU citizen, has been arbitrarily detained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since 2008, following a conviction on bankfalse fraud charges inrelated proceedingsto thata lackedloan fundamentalfrom fairDubai trialIslamic guarantees;Bank (DIB) for a property development project;

whereasB. Ryanwhereas Corneliushe was initially sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment,imprisonment andand, just before his scheduled release in 2018, his sentence was extended by an additional 20 years under UAEDubai Law No. 37 of 2009, applied retroactively and in violation of international legal standards;

whereas the UN WGAD concluded in 2022 that his imprisonment is arbitrary, unlawful, and violates multiple provisions of the UDHR;

C. whereas according to human rights organisations, the UAE Government has a concerning track record of arbitrary detention, unfair trials and allegations of torture;

whereas Ryan Cornelius was held in prolonged solitary confinement without access to legal counsel or communication with his family; whereas he was denied legal representation and interpretation during Arabic-language court proceedings, and reportedly coerced into signing documents he could not understand, falsely affirming that his human rights had been respected;

D. whereas according to independent auditors, the real estate development seized from Ryan Cornelius by DIB is demonstrably worth many times the amount of his outstanding debt to the bank;

whereas Ryan Cornelius has been held in inhumane conditions amounting to torture under international law, including extreme temperatures, sleep deprivation, and unsanitary facilities; whereas he has developed serious untreated health issues such as tuberculosis, cardiovascular disease, and high blood pressure, and remains without adequate medical care;

E. whereas the UNWGAD has declared his continued imprisonment a violation of international law, citing a lack of due process, coerced confessions, solitary confinement, denial of legal counsel and coerced signing of documents in Arabic;

whereas on 18 July 2024, the UAE court rejected his request for release on humanitarian and constitutional grounds, despite national law stating that prisoners should not be held beyond age 70;

F. whereas Ryan Cornelius continues to be held in inhumane prison conditions, with his health deteriorating and without proper access to healthcare;

Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Ryan Cornelius;

G. Whereas Dubai Law 37 of 2009 states in Article 7(1) that the convicted person (the debtor) shall not be sentenced to jail if that person is aged over 70; whereas Ryan Cornelius turned 70 in 2024 and as such should be granted an exemption under this law;

Demands that Ryan Cornelius be granted full reparations for the suffering he and his family have endured;

1. Condemns Ryan Cornelius’s arbitrary and prolonged detention and calls for him and all other arbitrarily detained persons to be released immediately and unconditionally;

Condemns the arbitrary and prolonged detention of Ryan Cornelius and the violations of his human rights, including the denial of a fair trial, due process, and adequate medical treatment;

2. Demands that he be granted an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations, in accordance with international law;

Demands that the UAE authorities allow independent medical experts to assess Ryan Cornelius’s condition and provide urgent medical treatment;

3. Urges the Dubai authorities to provide him with access to adequate medical treatment and care in accordance with international standards on the treatment of prisoners, and to ensure an independent investigation into his arbitrary detention;

4. Denounces the retroactive application of Law No. 37 of 2009 and urges the UAE to ensure fair trials and abolish the usepractice of debt-related imprisonment; notes that Ryan Cornelius remains in prison despite the authorities having seized assets valued at more than twice his original debt;

5. Expresses solidarity with Ryan Cornelius’shis family;

6. Calls on the United Kingdom to take all necessary action to ensure Ryan Cornelius’s release; urges the releaseVP/HR, the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, the Member States and the EU Delegation to the UAE to raise his case in all bilateral engagements with the UAE and closely monitor the conditions of Ryanhis Cornelius;detention;

Calls7. onInstructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the VP/HR, the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, and the Member States to raiseStates, Ryan’sand Corneliusthe casegovernments inof allthe bilateralUnited engagementsKingdom withand the UAE;UAE.

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the VP/HR, the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Government of the United Kingdom and the Government of the UAE.