Australian-British Man is Detained for Helping Refugee Children as Charity Becomes a Crime in the UAE

Australian-British resident of the UAE, Scott Richards, was detained in Dubai for promoting a crowd-funding page on social media. The 42-year old was arrested after raising awareness of the plight of women and children in a refugee camp in Afghanistan. This is another attack of the UAE against the most basic freedoms, including freedom of expression.

Mr. Richards, who holds dual Australian and British nationality, has spent 3 weeks in arbitrary detention at Al Murraqabat Police Station in Dubai. He has been held since July 28 with no formal charge and has been denied legal representation and bail. Under the new 2015 Charity Laws, fundraising efforts can be punished with a minimum of 2 months of imprisonment and a maximum of 1 year, as well as a conspicuous fine. 

Mr. Richards was volunteering with US charity “Keep Qambar Camp Warm” and had travelled to the refugee camp in Afghanistan to help coordinate humanitarian efforts and distribute much needed aid.

Arbitrary detention with no charge or sentence violates international human rights law. The arrest of Scott Richards proves once again the repressive policies of the UAE and their ongoing attacks against human rights and freedoms. We join Detained in Dubai in their call to an end to human rights abuses including arbitrary detention with no charge.

1. The report of Detained in Dubai is available here:  http://www.detainedindubai.org/single-post/2016/08/15/Australian-British-National-in-detention-without-charge-for-supporting-a-US-Charity-even-though-his-actions-were-not-in-breach-of-law-Arbitrary-detention-in-Dubai-