IHR Advisors to host Seminar in U.S. | Hostile Intent: UAE Subversion & Transnational Repression

27 May 2024

The United States is critically reassessing its relationship with the UAE, amid suspicions of strengthening Emirati ties with Russia and China, and concerns of espionage. 

In association with DAWN Mena, IHR Advisors is hosting a seminar on 11 June 2024 in Washington D.C. regarding the UAE’s role in transnational repression, espionage, subverting democratic processes, including an evaluation of policy recommendations for the US Government.

Please join us for a timely and critical seminar as transnational repression by the UAE threatens global human rights and democracy: by extending authoritarian control beyond their borders, dissidents and activists are targeted worldwide.

Hear firsthand accounts from renowned speakers, including Emirati human rights defender Janan Al Marzouki and leading UK Academic and torture victim Matthew Hedges.

The event will be chaired by Advocacy Director at DAWN Mena, Raed Jarrar, an Arab-American political advocate based in Washington, DC. Since he immigrated to the U.S. in 2005, he has worked as a lobbyist on political issues pertaining to the U.S. engagement in the Arab world.

Speakers:

Rhys Davies

Rhys is a leading International Criminal law and International Human Rights law barrister at Temple Garden Chambers. He is experienced in leading campaigns to free British and other citizens detained abroad. Rhys has significant experience in matters before the United Nations Special Procedures mechanisms, with numerous ongoing cases concerning matters of torture, arbitrary detention and forced displacement. Rhys has in-depth experience of both the UK and US Magnitsky sanctions regimes and has worked closely with leading global campaigners on efforts to sanction human rights abusers and corrupt officials. Rhys is a member of the List of Counsel for the International Criminal Court, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. Rhys is an expert on INTERPOL and the Red Notice system and has extensive experience of advising clients detained at the behest of oppressive regimes.

Matthew Hedges

Matthew is a British academic who was detained in the UAE in 2018 on suspicion of spying on behalf of the British government. In November 2018, Matthew was sentenced to life imprisonment in the UAE on charges of espionage in state security. Matthew was pardoned later in November 2018. He was awarded his PhD from Durham University and published it under the title Reinventing the Sheikhdom, Clan, Power, and Patronage in MBZ's UAE.

Janan al Marzouki

Emirati Human Rights Defender and Daughter of the UAE94 victim Abdulsalam Derwish. Al-Marzouqi speaks out about the violations and harassment of the families of the detainees by the UAE authorities, noting that the families of the detainees are subjected to systematic reprisals including discrimination against them, and restrictions on their right to study, work and receive treatment, in addition to revoking their nationalities and preventing them from traveling.

To register, click here.