British academic files 'torture' claim against UAE officials

Campbell MacDiarmid
·2 min read
British academic Matthew Hedges has lodged a civil claim against four Emirati officials he accuses of responsibility for his imprisonment in the United Arab Emirates - Paul Grover
British academic Matthew Hedges has lodged a civil claim against four Emirati officials he accuses of responsibility for his imprisonment in the United Arab Emirates - Paul Grover

A British academic has filed a civil case in the UK against four United Arab Emirates officials, claiming he was tortured after being falsely accused of spying in the UAE.

Matthew Hedges was arrested in the UAE in May 2018 while conducting research for his PhD at Durham University and charged with attempting to procure sensitive information.

In a videotaped confession that Mr Hedges later said was filmed under duress, the postgraduate student said he was a "captain in MI6". Intelligence analysts pointed out that no such rank exists in the Secret Intelligence Service, which is only informally known as MI6.

In a move that strained ties between the UK and the UAE, Mr Hedges was sentenced to life imprisonment in November 2018 before being pardoned soon after.

After regaining his freedom, Mr Hedges alleged he had been coerced into making a false confession, held in solitary confinement and subjected to psychological abuse amounting to torture.

"On May 5th 2018, I was detained and tortured in the UAE. Three years later, I am still waiting for the truth and justice,” he said in a statement released by his lawyers Carter-Ruck Solicitors.

He was filing suit after UAE authorities had refused to respond to a complaint submitted through the UK Foreign Office, he said: “It is clear they have no interest in finding out who was responsible for my abuse.”

Mr Hedges, 33, said he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of being questioned up to 15 hours a day while in detention and is seeking to clear his name in court. He also said the Foreign Office had not done enough to help him.

Papers filed with the High Court in London name as defendants a former head of State Security Public Prosecution in Abu Dhabi, Counsellor Saqr Saif Al Naqbi; the former commander-in-chief of the Abu Dhabi police, Major-General Mohammed Khalfan Al Rumaithi; the Inspector General in the Ministry of the Interior,Major-General Ahmed Naser Ahmed Alrais Al Raisi; and a senior intelligence official, Ali Mohammed Hamad Hammad Al Shamsi.

“Mr Hedges is claiming damages against the four for assault, false imprisonment and the intentional infliction of psychiatric injury which occurred during the course of his detention,” Carter-Ruck said.

Mr Hedges hopes to be awarded between £200,000 and £350,000 in damages, according to court documents.

UAE officials have not yet responded publicly.