“Those who seek to bestow legitimacy must themselves embody it; those who invoke international law must themselves submit to it.” 

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10/01/2012 

Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General, United Nations

 

Jaweed Al Ghussein with the late ruler of Abu Dhabi HH Sheik Zayed Al Nahyan. Yasser Arafat and Sheik Abdullah Bin Zayed are in the background.

 

Abu Dhabi 'must establish rule of law'

Lord Soley writes for ePolitix.com ahead of his question in the House of Lords on the Abu Dhabi government.

Abu Dhabi is oil-rich and could be a beacon for a new Middle East. None of the countries in the region are models of democracy but, given the history of the area, this is not entirely surprising.

I take the view that the rule of law is essential to any modern state and a necessary precursor to full democracy. Several abuses of the law in Abu Dhabi give cause for concern.

The worst case is that of the brutal treatment handed out to an employee of Sheikh Essa, shown dramatically on YouTube. You will be shocked if you view this – it is appalling.

The Al-Ghussein family is also a worrying example of the way the state has used its power to destroy a businessman and his family.

Mr Al-Ghussein was a respected Palestinian businessman running one of the most successful companies in Abu Dhabi.

He opposed the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq and earned himself the wrath of Yasser Arafat, who enlisted the support of the Abu Dhabi government and had him kidnapped and secreted out of the country to be held in Gaza.

He was given category one status by the UN working party on arbitrary detention. There has been a long-running attempt by the family to get their property back.

Sadly Mr Al-Ghussein died a few years ago.

Attempts to get the family's property restored in Abu Dhabi have all failed but, as pressure grows, there is hope that the government will address the issue.

Failure to do so will send a damaging message to other potential investors in the country.

More recently a British naturalised Sudanese business man's son vanished in Abu Dhabi and the Observer newspaper reports that Mr Elhaj believes that corrupt UAE officials handed his son over to kidnappers - similar to the way Mr Al-Ghussein was given up.

Abu Dhabi could take the lead on the rule of law. They have enough national wealth to establish a school of law in the territory.

In my question I will seek to start a debate in the UK, EU and US where I am in discussions with other legislators about this problem.

It needs a joint approach from everyone who would like to see Abu Dhabi establish the rule of law.

 

http://www.parliament.uk/lords/index.cfm

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/lord_soley

 

Ahead of his question to the House of Lords, Lord Soley wrote his views on the Abu Dhabi government and how the state ‘must establish rule of law’.

‘I take the view that the rule of law is essential to any modern state and a necessary precursor to full democracy,’ states Lord Soley on ePolitix.com, a website that provides ‘free to access’ services and aims to promote improved communication between MPs and the public.

Lord Soley comments further on the responsibilities that Abu Dhabi holds as a country, ‘Abu Dhabi is oil-rich and could be a beacon for a new Middle East.’

Examples are given of horrific instances where employees of Sheik Essa, brother to Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince are beaten brutally.

The Al-Ghussein family is another prime example Lord Soley mentions in his article. Commenting on the treatment Mr. Al-Ghussein received, Lord Soley says: ‘He opposed the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq and earned himself the wrath of Yasser Aaraf, who enlisted the support of the Abu Dhabi government and had him kidnapped and secreted out of the country to be held in Gaza.’

According to Lord Soley’s report, the UN assigned Al-Ghussein’s capture category one status on the grounds of arbitrary detention. Unfortunately Mr. Al-Ghussein died one year ago and his family is still battling to keep their assets in Abu Dhabi, despite failing to restore their property. But Lord Soley reiterates the hope that the ‘growing pressure’ felt by the government may yield some positive progress.

Lord Soley summarises how he will attempt to bring Abu Dhabi’s government to face up to the several examples of corruption and brutality, ‘In my question I will seek to start a debate in the UK, EU and US where I am in discussions with other legislators about this problem…it needs a joint approach from everyone who would like to see Abu Dhabi establish the rule of law.’
A single question in the House of Lords is not sufficient for a territory with such resources and responsibility to change its modus operandi. More needs to be done to bring change and accountability to Abu Dhabi.