IHR-Advisors Secure United Nations Finding of Arbitrary Detention

Opinion No. 19/2022 concerning Ryan Cornelius (United Arab Emirates), adopted by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention at its 93rd session

31 May 2022

In a landmark moment in the case of Ryan Cornelius, a British national imprisoned the UAE, the United Nations has ruled that Mr Cornelius has been arbitrarily detained.

Mr Cornelius was arrested in 2008 has been held in custody ever since. Following submissions filed by Rhys Davies and Ben Keith, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has found that Mr Cornelius’s fundamental rights have been breached and that his ongoing detention is arbitrary and in contravention of articles 2, 3,6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The United Nations has called for the immediate release of Mr Cornelius and has urged the Emirati government to ensure a full and independent investigation takes place into the circumstances surrounding the arbitrary deprivation of Mr Cornelius’s liberty.

Ben Keith and Rhys Davies were named International Pro Bono Barrister of the Year in November 2021 as a result of their pro bono work on the Ryan Cornelius case.