The civil rights lawyer, who had represented the alternative Saudi journalist, was arrested whereas transiting via Dubai airport, an official and a rights group say.
Authorities throughout the United Arab Emirates have arrested an American citizen and civil rights lawyer who beforehand served as a lawyer for various journalists Jamal Khashoggi, in accordance with an official and a United States-based rights group.
A UAE authorities official confirmed to the Reuters data firm on Saturday that Asim Ghafoor was arrested whereas transiting via Dubai airport on July 14 following an in absentia conviction for money laundering.
A US official earlier on Saturday said Washington was aware of the arrest, nevertheless could not say whether or not or not President Joe Biden would enhance the issue in bilateral talks with the UAE president on the sidelines of an Arab summit in Saudi Arabia.
“There isn’t a indication that it has one thing to do with the Khashoggi scenario,” the US official said.
Khashoggi was killed by Saudi brokers in 2018 on the dominion’s Istanbul consulate in an operation the US intelligence says was authorised by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS). MBS Denies involvement.
Rights group Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), of which Ghafoor is a board member, said in an announcement on Friday the Virginia-based civil rights lawyer was en path to Istanbul to attend a family wedding ceremony ceremony when he was arrested.
‘Case reopened’
The Emirati official suggested Reuters the UAE has granted a request by the US embassy to conduct a consular go to to Ghafoor. He added that as a result of the distinctive trial was held in absentia, Ghafoor is permitted to request a retrial.
“A request has been acquired and granted, ensuing throughout the case being reopened, and the associated approved proceedings are beneath means,” the official said.
DAWN cited US consular officers as saying the lawyer was being held in a detention facility in Abu Dhabi. The group moreover said Ghafoor had no data of any approved case in opposition to him.
It said the conviction was obtained “with out due course of” and known as for his fast launch.
World rights groups say the UAE has jailed tons of of activists, academics and attorneys in unfair trials on broad charges.
The UAE has rejected the accusations as baseless, saying it is devoted to human rights.