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¿Hace falta ayuda?Working for a world where every person's right to a fair trial is respected, whatever their nationality, wherever they are accused
SAFI QURASHI AND COLLEAGUES - UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
British businessmen imprisoned for bounced cheques intended as security
The cases of Safi Qurashi, Mustafa Nagri and Yusuf Nagri are indicative of the plight of a growing number of business people and investors in the United Arab Emirates, facing severe criminal penalties for non-payment of debts under the UAE’s harsh criminal laws.
Safi and Mustafa are British businessmen and family men. They moved to Dubai in 2004 and founded Premier Real Estate Bureau (PREB), which specialises in developing luxury waterfront properties. Yusuf Nagri was recruited as financial controller in 2006. In 2010 they were arrested by the police and accused of bouncing cheques. Although they explained that they were security cheques and were not intended to be cashed, they were convicted to prison sentences of 7 years (Safi), 3 years (Mustafa) and 4 years (Yusuf). Safi, Mustafa and Yusuf were denied their most basic defence rights, which led to these unsafe convictions. Moreover, their cases were heard by the criminal court despite the creation of a Real Estate Committee whose mandate it is to handle such cases.
Related Pages
- FTI CALLS ON HSBC AND THE UK GOVERNMENT TO PUBLICLY OPPOSE THE USE OF IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT Fair Trials writes to the Head of HSBC, UAE on using imprisonment to recover debt
- BRITON JAILED IN GULF FOR BOUNCING CHEQUES MUST BE FREED, SAYS CHARITY Fair Trials International has appealed to Foriegn Secretary William Hague and HSBC about the criminalisation of debt non-payment
What you can do to help
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Raise the profile: You can write to the following to express your concerns about the case.
- Barry Gardiner MP - Mustafa Nagri’s MP (House of Commons, Westminster, London SW1A 0AA)
- Sadiq Khan MP - Safi Qurashi’s MP (House of Commons, Westminster, London, SW1A 0AA)
- Foreign Secretary, Rt Hon William Hague MP (Foreign and Commonwealth Office, King Charles Street, London, SW1A 2AH)
- His Excellency Abdulrahman Ghanem Almutaiwee, UAE Ambassador to the UK (Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, 30 Princes Gate, London, SW7 1PT)
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Donate to our work: FTI does not charge for its services and relies on your support to help hundreds of people. You may also wish to consider organising your own fundraising events. We are always happy to hear what people are doing to raise funds.
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Inform others: Tell colleagues, friends and family about this case and how FTI works for a world where every person’s right to a fair trial is respected.
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