Official British Body Condemns UAE for Torturing Foreign Expatriates

A formal British regulatory body has denounced the UAE authorities for torturing foreign expatriates following an extensive investigation into the arrest of a British academic on charges of espionage in Abu Dhabi.

According to a probe conducted by the Parliamentary Watchdog Agency, it was found that British writer and academic Matthew Hodges had been subjected to torture during his several months of detention in the UAE, as reported by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

Parliamentary Ombudsman Robert Burns exclaimed that his country’s foreign ministry had failed Hodges, who suffered torture during his imprisonment in Abu Dhabi’s prisons on charges of espionage.

Burns stated that the British government “missed signs of potential torture against Matthew, who repeatedly denied the charges and claimed he was pursuing his doctoral degree at Durham University.”

The Parliamentary Ombudsman demanded an official apology from the British Foreign Ministry to academic Matthew Hodges. The Foreign Ministry responded, saying it would “review the findings made by the Parliamentary Ombudsman.”

During visits by officials from the British Embassy, Hodges was under the supervision of guards who instructed him on what to say. However, officials did not take into account the “clear signs” that he may have been subjected to ill-treatment, such as his shaky voice and avoidance of eye contact. Hodges indicated experiencing anxiety attacks.

The agency further revealed that the Foreign Office guidelines required staff to act based on warning signs even when they did not have permission. “It must be clear to Foreign Office staff that he was not in a position to give or withhold consent.”

Hodges commented that the Ombudsman’s ruling was a “confession” to what happened to him. He added, “It’s a personal victory for me to know that it wasn’t just my experience, but others recognized that.”

In 2018, Hodges was in Abu Dhabi when he was accused of working for the British Secret Intelligence Service and “spying on behalf of or on behalf of” the UK government.

At that time, Abu Dhabi authorities stated that materials found on his laptop proved that he was a spy, and he was sentenced to life imprisonment. However, Abu Dhabi succumbed to British pressure and issued a pardon for him.

Hodges claimed that he was handcuffed and kept in solitary confinement during his detention. He was interrogated for hours and given a mixture of drugs. He suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and insomnia.

Upon his release, he complained to the Parliamentary Ombudsman about the British government’s response.

The regulatory agency found that the British Foreign Ministry had failed to protect Hodges and recommended that a compensation of £1,500 be paid to him.

Hodges stated that the money was “a small amount,” but he welcomed the apology, adding, “The most important thing for my healing is an official apology from the Foreign Ministry and an acknowledgment of the changes and their implementation, so that other individuals who are currently in or have been in similar circumstances don’t have to bear this.”

Rebecca Helsinrath, CEO of the Ombudsman’s office, noted that Hodges’ horrifying experience had become a “nightmare,” worsened by the British government’s failure. She added, “They were trusted to help him and let him down.”

In response, the British Foreign Ministry mentioned that it had “worked extensively on this issue” and raised it at the ministerial level “on multiple occasions.”

Hodges was arrested four years ago in Dubai while conducting academic research. He was accused of working for the British Secret Intelligence Service and “spying on behalf of or on behalf of” the UK government. He was initially sentenced to life in prison but was released within a week after London strongly urged Abu Dhabi to do so. This underscores the disparity between Western citizens and the treatment of UAE citizens, particularly political detainees, who often remain incarcerated even as criminal prisoners are pardoned on religious and national occasions.