UN Experts Urge UAE to Release British Businessman Ryan Cornelius

GENEVA, July 24, 2026 — United Nations human rights experts have called on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to immediately release 72-year-old British businessman Ryan Cornelius, warning that his continued detention poses a serious threat to his health and could become a death sentence. The experts said Cornelius completed his original 10-year prison sentence in 2018 but has remained in detention after authorities extended his imprisonment by another 20 years in proceedings they say were marked by serious judicial irregularities. They also noted that the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention previously ruled that his continued detention was arbitrary. Cornelius was arrested in Dubai in May 2008 over a financing dispute and was convicted in 2011. Just before completing his sentence in March 2018, his imprisonment was reportedly extended on the grounds of an outstanding debt. According to the UN experts, court proceedings in Bahrain in 2020 found that assets and payments transferred to the lender had fully settled the alleged debt and even exceeded the amount owed. They stressed that international human rights law does not permit imprisonment as a means of enforcing civil debts. The experts expressed deep concern over Cornelius' deteriorating physical and mental health, citing his advanced age, prolonged detention, and reports of inadequate medical care and poor prison conditions. They warned that urgent action is needed to prevent irreversible harm. They also raised concerns over reports that Cornelius spent about seven weeks in solitary confinement, noting that prolonged solitary confinement of more than 15 consecutive days may amount to torture under international standards. Additional reports alleged that he was held in overcrowded conditions, received inadequate nutrition, had limited opportunities for exercise, and was pressured to sign documents claiming that his human rights were being respected. The UN experts urged the UAE authorities to provide Cornelius with proper medical care, remove any remaining barriers to his release, and uphold their obligation to protect his life, health, and dignity while he remains in custody. They also confirmed that they have engaged with both the governments of the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom, encouraging a diplomatic solution to secure Cornelius' release and bring an end to his prolonged detention. This version is suitable for publication as a straight news story while maintaining a neutral, factual tone.