Canadian-Libyan citizen Salim Alaradi has been held without charge in the United Arab Emirates since August 2014.

Canadian-Libyan citizen Salim Alaradi has been held without charge in the United Arab Emirates since August 2014.
Photo Credit: Canadian Press

Calls for action on Canadian tortured in U.A.E.

The United Arab Emirates appears poised to lay charges against Canadian-Libyan Salim Alaradi, says Alex Neve, secretary-general of Amnesty International Canada. Neve and Alaradi’s family say there is evidence the dual-national has been tortured during his detention.

Alaradi was arrested a-year-and-a-half ago at the same time as were several other Libyan nationals. He was, at first, held incommunicado, with no access to family, lawyers or consular officials.

Alaradi was in the furniture and home appliance business with his brother and, while he apparently was not politically active, he had another brother who was involved in the Libyan government. Relations between Libya and the Emirates have been tense.

Salim Alaradi’s family continues to lobby hard to have him freed.
Salim Alaradi’s family continues to lobby hard to have him freed. © The Windsor Star/Facebook/Alaradi Family

Several prisoners reportedly tortured

“There’s very real concern about torture,” says Neve. “This has come to light through a number of different sources.” Alaradi’s brother and another Canadian who were imprisoned at the same time and later were released say they were tortured and had direct information that Alaradi and other prisoners were as well, says Neve.

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Neve himself has seen Canadian consular documents he says make it clear Alaradi told Canadian officials he was being mistreated and tortured as far back as a year ago. Neve says he is very disappointed the Canadian government of the day did not take stronger action on the case.

Previous government should have acted, says advocate

“It’s very evident to us that… this case should have been elevated way to the top of the political exchanges between the two governments, not simply at the level of officials, but ministers and even the prime minister,” he says.

Canada has “an important relationship” with the United Arab Emirates, says Neve, noting that many trade and economic exchanges between the two countries would have given Canada many openings to discuss the case and some leverage.

‘Hopeful signs’

There was a change of government in Canada last October and Neve says there are “hopeful signs” the new foreign minister Stephane Dion is taking the case quite seriously. He adds he will be watching closely.

Meanwhile Alaradi’s family continues to lobby hard to get help on the case. His teenaged daughter has travelled to Europe and has produced a video to solicit help to free her father.

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