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Radha Stirling

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Radha Stirling
BornNovember 1978
Florida, USA
Alma materBond University
OccupationHuman rights advocate
Websiteradhastirling.com

Radha Stirling is a human rights advocate, and lawyer, specializing in legal issues in the Middle East. She is the founder of the United Kingdom-based organisations Detained in Dubai, Due Process International and IPEX (Interpol & Extradition) Reform.

She founded Detained in Dubai, a justice organisation. in 2008 after her friend, Cat Le-Huy, was imprisoned in Dubai. Stirling campaigned for his release,[1] and subsequently received requests from other people in need of help, so thought there was a need for an organisation to assist victims of injustice.[2]

Stirling also campaigns for changes to the legal system of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and founded Due Process International[3] to campaign for reforms in the wider Middle East. Stirling has worked closely with Senators and Ministers of Parliament; her work with the Australian Parliament ensured provisions to safeguard citizens against human rights violations were included in their extradition treaty with the UAE.[4]

In March 2018, Stirling acted for Hervé Jaubert and Sheikha Latifa Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, after she made allegations of abuse and torture against her father, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai.[5][6] Indian and UAE soldiers captured the two as they were in the Arabian Sea, near the coast of India.[7]

Early life

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Stirling attended Mater Christi College, in Belgrave, Victoria; Yarra Valley Grammar; Box Hill TAFE and Bond University.[8]

Career

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Stirling became active in the Middle East when Cat Le-Huy, a friend, was detained in Dubai. She led a campaign for his release in 2008, founding Detained in Dubai.[9][10]

She was associated with Dubai and Cairo-based law firm Nasser Hashem and Partners, but left the firm after five years. Stirling founded a campaign group, IPEX Reform,[11] specialising in extradition and Interpol cases and is an advocate for policy reform to prevent abuse of Interpol. Stirling has provided expert witness testimony in UAE and Qatar extradition cases[12] and civil litigation suits.[13]

in 2017, Stirling and barrister Ben Cooper of Doughty Street Chambers urged the British Irish Commercial Bar Association (BICBA) to cancel an upcoming conference with the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) following allegations of corruption and malpractice.[14] BICBA later cancelled their event.[15]

In 2021, Stirling helped the family of Billy Hood,[16] a British football coach detained in the UAE [17] and in 2022, supported Brian Glendinning, who was detained in Iraq over a Qatar-issued Interpol Red Notice for a bank debt.[18]

In 2022, Stirling with her organisation, Due Process International, defended British cryptocurrency expert and FBI's most wanted, Christopher Emms, from a US extradition request for allegedly violating sanctions by attending a crypto seminar in Pyongyang, North Korea.[19]

In 2023, Stirling expanded her focus towards the US and was hired by President Biden's sexual assault accuser, Tara Reade.[20]

Lobbying

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Stirling has worked alongside a number of political figures representing her clients and causes. In 2010, Senator Kroger and Stirling[21] successfully lobbied Australian parliament to install human rights safety provisions into the newly passed extradition treaty between Australia and the UAE.[22]

Stirling has worked with a number of British politicians including Priti Patel who advocated for Asa Hutchinson to be freed by the UAE,[22][23] Kenny MacAskill for Conor Howard,[24] Emma Lewell-Buck who raised the case of Robert Urwin in Parliament,[25][26] Crispin Blunt who supported Christopher Emms[27] and Canadian MP Richard Martel and Foreign Affairs Minister Pamela Goldsmith-Jones to successfully resolve 86 criminal cases against André Gauthier[28] in the Gold AE scandal. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded to calls by Martel,[29] before his release from jail in Dubai. Stirling has worked with Lord Timothy Clement-Jones,[30] Baroness Janet Whitaker and Andy Slaughter, MP to call on the Foreign Office to increase their travel warnings and even sanction the UAE over the abuse of Brits in detention.[31][32] In 2022, she worked with Douglas Chapman, MP to secure the freedom of Scotsman Brian Glendinning.[33]

Interpol and Extradition Reform

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Stirling founded IPEX Reform, an NGO campaigning for reform of extradition laws and the red notice system.[34]

Stirling has criticised the United States.[35] Australia,[36] Qatar and the United Arab Emirates[37][38] for abusing the Interpol red notice system or failing to protect their citizens from the abuse.

Criticism of the British Foreign Office

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Stirling has called for increase travel warnings, saying "no-one would really be aware" of the severity of cyber-crime laws in the UAE, and the "FCO had failed to adequately warn tourists about them."[39] Over Billy Hood's detention, she said “These are not isolated incidents but repeat patterns and this is why Baroness Whitaker, Andy Slaughter and other MP’s have called on the foreign office to increase their travel warnings and even sanction the UAE over the abuse of Brits in detention."[40]

Stirling accused the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office of “working too strongly in cooperation with the UAE Government”. She criticised the FCO for providing advice to British travellers which “really falls short of the reality of the situation”. Stirling also worked with Billy Barclay, who said "that the embassy was advising the family against campaigning for his release. “In fact, it was only as a result of the campaign…that he is home today."[41]

Media appearances

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Stirling has appeared in a number of documentaries and TV shows.[42] She has appeared on Good Morning Britain,[43] 60 Minutes,[44] ITV's DayBreak,[45] BBC's The Missing Princess, an Aljazeera documentary with Tamer Almisshal,[46] and the Sean Hannity show.[47]

Client advocacy

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Stirling has published articles and videos extensively on social media social media laws, cybercrime laws and Interpol Red Notice abuse. She has publicly campaigned for the release of people detained in the UAE, notably Jamie Harron,[48] Ellie Holman,[49] Billy Barclay, Johnson George, Richard Lau, Matthew Hedges, Matt Joyce and Marcus Lee, Safi Qurashi, Scott Richards, Conrad Clitheroe, Gary Cooper, Farzan Athari,[50] Laleh Shahravesh,[51] Conor Howard[24] and Albert Douglas.[52]

Sheikha Latifa Al Maktoum

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Sheikha Latifa bin al Maktoum, daughter of the ruler of Dubai, instructed Stirling's assistance during her attempted escape. Toby Cadman of Guernica International Justice Chambers brought the princess's case to the United Nations, following her reported abduction from US flagged yacht Nostromo in March 2018. Stirling provided testimony before the United Nations Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances and has worked closely with Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International to seek Sheikha Latifa's freedom. Stirling was featured on 60 Minutes and BBC documentary “Escape from Dubai” which showcased Latifa's escape and subsequent abduction by UAE and Indian military forces.

Public speaking and work with think tanks

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Stirling spoke at a Frontiers of Freedom conference in Washington DC,[53] in November 2018, on a dais with speakers that included Senator Rand Paul. She presented information on a variety of Middle East issues, including reports of increased aggression and lawlessness on the part of America's gulf allies. She suggested that relationships and policies needed to be reviewed in order to ensure security and safety for the United States and its Western allies.[54]

She presented at the OffshoreAlert conference[55] in Miami on the risks of doing business in the Gulf.

Journalism

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She hosts her own blog and is an author for the Jerusalem Report,[56] the Times of Israel,[57] the Independent[58] and Inside Arabia. and has written a book on lawyers in Dubai. She covers topics ranging from rape victims being charged with sex outside marriage, sanctions violations, the execution of Khashoggi, the Abraham Accords and worldwide ambivalence to Ukraine.

Ras Al Khaimah and Hacking

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Stirling has focussed on the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) and ruler Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi. Stirling criticized the ruler and alleged "massive corruption"[59] leading to her and her clients being targeted by Israeli hackers.[60]

Stirling lobbied against international law firm Dechert lawyers, supporting her Ras Al Khaimah clients in their torture allegations against the firm.[61] Dechert partner Neil Gerrard resigned as partner and is now subject to a £1 million claim for hacking.[62]

A Citizen Lab and Facebook investigation found her clients were targeted by Israeli spy company, Bluehawk CI. Stirling suggested America should hold foreign states and corporations to account.” [60]

In a separate incident, a fake philanthropist reached out to Radha Stirling which the Daily Beast found to be "a crude attempt to hack the attorney’s phone, that shows the lengths that some are apparently willing to go to seek information about lawsuits against Ras Al Khaimah." The hackers were seeking information on her RAK clients and litigations she was involved with as well as the Jordanian Princess Haya. They then tried to send her malware to surveil her phone[63]

Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum

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In December 2018, Helene Jaubert, the American ex-wife of former French Navy officer Hervé Jaubert told American news website The Daily Beast that Hervé Jaubert and Stirling had been in contact with princess Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (II) for 5 years and invented the whole disappearance scheme together. According to Helene, “The whole plan was for Herve to help her escape and once he got her out the daughter was going to get to the dad and say I want $3 million or else I’ll tell all to the media”. According to Helene, "It was a con. It’s a corrupt scheme gone haywire". Herve Jaubert responded “Radha Sterling could not have planned anything because she knew about Latifa escape only from March 2, 2018.”[64]

According to Stirling, Latifa phoned her from the boat in the middle of the ambush, saying she feared for her life and “was hearing gunshots.” According to Stirling, Latifa made the call via WhatsApp and evidence of the call was provided to authorities in the US and UK and made available to reporters, although The Daily Beast pointed out that a satellite phone is normally needed to call from their alleged location in the Indian Ocean.[65]

Alcohol in the UAE

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In August 2018, Stirling stated that "the UAE maintains a deliberately misleading facade that alcohol consumption is perfectly legal for visitors" after Swedish-Iranian national Ellie Holman, whom she assisted, was reportedly arrested for drinking one complimentary glass of wine aboard an Emirates flight from London to Dubai. She said “They will offer you alcohol on their airline, and arrest you at the airport for accepting it. This can only be regarded as such a deliberate attempt to misrepresent UAE rules on alcohol that it amounts to entrapment."[66]

References

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  1. ^ "Man held for jet-lag drugs 'free'". 3 March 2008. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  2. ^ "Man held for jet-lag drugs 'free'". 3 March 2008. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  3. ^ Delaney, James (18 October 2022). "Scot held over Qatar loan debt left 'isolated' in 'rat-infested cell'". STV News. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  4. ^ Stirling, Radha (9 February 2011). SBS Radio Interview. Radha Stirling. Retrieved 3 July 2019. Timestamps of source content needed in support of appearing statements.[full citation needed]
  5. ^ News Desk (30 June 2021). "Radha Stirling accuses India and UAE navy | Weekly Blitz". Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  6. ^ Bianca Britton (28 December 2018). "Sheikha Latifa: Former UN rights chief criticized". CNN. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  7. ^ "French Captain to File Suit over 2018 Capture of Dubai Princess, Case to 'Also be Against India'".
  8. ^ "The ARCH Magazine | Issue 4 | 2010 Summer". Issuu. 9 August 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  9. ^ "TV executive faces jail in Dubai for barely visible cannabis speck". The Independent. 22 February 2008. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  10. ^ Radha Stirling interview with Channel 9 on Cat Le-Huy's arbitrary arrest in Dubai in 2008, August 2021, retrieved 6 November 2022
  11. ^ "Scots father held in Iraq prison over alleged debt released, pressure group says". www.shropshirestar.com. 13 November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  12. ^ "Tranent man could face extradition to Qatar over empty cannabis grinder". East Lothian Courier. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  13. ^ Staff Writers (27 February 2017). "Lawyers call for UAE extradition treaty to be suspended over human rights fears". Irish Legal News. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  14. ^ Staff Writers (27 February 2017). "BICBA urged to cancel arbitration seminar in Dubai". Irish Legal News. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  15. ^ "BICBA urged to cancel arbitration seminar in Dubai". Scottish Legal News. 27 February 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  16. ^ "Billy Hood: Football coach's Dubai jail term cut to 10 years". 1 December 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  17. ^ "Brit jailed for 25 years in Dubai after friend left CBD oil in car". 11 February 2022.
  18. ^ Watson, Jeremy. "Brian Glendinning: Family appeals for return of Scot facing jail in Qatar over unpaid debt". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  19. ^ "Inside the great Pyongyang crypto caper". British GQ. 24 November 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  20. ^ Biden accuser Tara Reade & Interpol expert Radha Stirling talk to the Hill Rising: Washington DC. Retrieved 15 May 2024 – via www.youtube.com.
  21. ^ "Coalition to vote down treaty". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 November 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  22. ^ a b "Coalition to vote down treaty". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 November 2010. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  23. ^ O'Neill, Lottie (3 March 2018). "How this woman's 'dream' Dubai trip left her stranded and facing prison". EssexLive. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  24. ^ a b "'Relieved' Conor Howard to fly home after 'rollercoaster' 3 months facing Qatar extradition over cannabis grinder find". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  25. ^ McFadden, Brendan (8 December 2019). "British man detained in Ukraine for 14 months over bounced cheque allowed home". mirror. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  26. ^ Interpol Red Notice Removal. Interpol Red Notice removed by IPEX after Qatar Interpol Abuse, 24 September 2021, retrieved 12 November 2022
  27. ^ "U.S. fails in bid to extradite Brit for helping North Korea evade sanctions with cryptocurrency". The Record by Recorded Future. 30 September 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  28. ^ "Le Monde Juridique – The Montreal Lawyer | Canadian government in the dark about whistleblower's status". 29 May 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  29. ^ "PM Trudeau talks CUSMA, Andre Gauthier, and Toronto Raptors (or not) | Watch News Videos Online". Global News. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  30. ^ BBC on Ryan Cornelius - interview with Lord Timothy Clement-Jones & Radha Stirling, 13 March 2019, retrieved 12 November 2022
  31. ^ "Tortured yet again - Albert's health deteriorates in Dubai jail as UK government finally acts". Travellers Times. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  32. ^ "British football coach jailed for 25 years in Dubai over cannabis oil found in car". The Independent. 13 October 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  33. ^ Young, Iona; Vesty, Sarah (17 October 2022). "Wife of Scottish dad jailed in Iraq fears he is unwell after distressing prison phone call". edinburghlive. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  34. ^ "Brother of Scot held in Iraq says his conditions are 'vile'". Weston Mercury. 27 October 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  35. ^ "Crispin Blunt condemns Foreign Secretary's inaction over constituent detained in Saudi Arabia". Crispin Blunt MP. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  36. ^ "While soccer player Hakeem was locked up in Bangkok Airport last summer, the AFP missed a crucial email". ABC News. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  37. ^ "UK dad's arrest in Iraq 'sends warning to World Cup fans'". HullLive. 10 October 2022. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  38. ^ Lagan, Sarah (14 August 2020). "Stevenson detention 'an abuse of his rights'". www.royalgazette.com. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  39. ^ "British woman faces Dubai jail over Facebook 'horse' insult". BBC News. 7 April 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  40. ^ Shaw, Neil (11 February 2022). "Brit jailed for 25 years in Dubai after friend left CBD oil in car". WalesOnline. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  41. ^ "Claims that Dubai locals get Brits jailed for "sport" as Scot Jamie Harron goes on trial". HeraldScotland. 22 October 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  42. ^ "Radha Stirling". IMDb. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  43. ^ Good Morning Britain TV with Radha Stirling, Susanna Reid & Ben Shephard on Billy Hood case, 15 October 2021, retrieved 12 November 2022
  44. ^ "60 Minutes: The incredible story about a missing princess". www.9news.com.au. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  45. ^ ITV1 DayBreak British Death in Police Custody with Radha Stirling, 22 April 2011, retrieved 12 November 2022
  46. ^ Investment in Dubai - Radha Stirling showcases the risks of investing in the UAE with Tamer Misshal, 9 March 2020, retrieved 15 November 2022
  47. ^ "Hannity Radio Show Recap: Apr 27". iHeart. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  48. ^ "Dubai Scot jailed for three months for public indecency". BBC News. 22 October 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  49. ^ Goldstein, Michael. "Could A Glass Of Wine On An Emirates A380 Put You In A Dubai Jail?". Forbes. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  50. ^ "Home". detainedindubai.org.
  51. ^ "Laleh Shahravesh back in UK after horse jibe row in Dubai". BBC News. 12 April 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  52. ^ "Inside Dubai: British families of detainees say BBC has made 'propaganda video'". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  53. ^ Stirling, Radha (6 December 2018). Radha Stirling at Frontiers of Freedom's Saudi Arabia and UAE Conference. Frontiers of Freedom. Retrieved 3 July 2019. Timestamps of source content needed in support of appearing statements.
  54. ^ Radha Stirling at Frontiers of Freedom's Saudi Arabia and UAE Conference, 13 September 2020, retrieved 18 August 2021
  55. ^ Comerford, Naomi (29 April 2019). "Detained In Dubai: The Risks of Doing Business in The Arabian Gulf - OffshoreAlert". Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  56. ^ "Detained in Dubai: Helping tourists wrongfully accused, jailed in the UAE". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  57. ^ "Radha Stirling's Blog". blogs.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  58. ^ "Shocked that a woman was arrested for reporting rape in Dubai? I'm not". The Independent. 17 November 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  59. ^ MarketScreener (2 February 2021). "RAK Ceramics Bangladesh : UAE 'asks' Bangladesh to freeze assets of RAKIA CEO Khater Massaad | MarketScreener". www.marketscreener.com. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  60. ^ a b Rawnsley, Adam (16 December 2021). "'Violent in Its Psychological Effects': Inside the Dark World of Cyber Spies-for-Hire". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  61. ^ Editor, Jonathan Ames, Legal. "City lawyers accused of torture threats in Gulf". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 15 November 2022. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  62. ^ "Dechert and former partner Neil Gerrard sued for $100m over hacking claims | RollOnFriday". www.rollonfriday.com. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  63. ^ Rawnsley, Adam (6 April 2021). "Israeli Snoop-for-Hire Posed as a Fox News Journalist for a Spy Operation". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  64. ^ Kennedy, Dana (13 May 2018). "The Missing Princess of Dubai: Foiled Escape or Complete Fraud?". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  65. ^ Kennedy, Dana (5 December 2018). "The Missing Princess of Dubai: Foiled Escape or Complete Fraud?". The Daily Beast.
  66. ^ "Woman arrested with daughter in Dubai over drinking wine is released". The Guardian. 11 August 2018.
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