“In parallel with an intensive campaign to free this innocent grandfather, we applied to the United Nations Working Group for Arbitrary Detentions (UNWGAD). After reviewing all the evidence and testimony, they communicated with the UAE and ultimately ruled Albert had been arbitrarily detained”, reports Ms Stirling who also advanced Princess Latifa’s case before the United Nations in Geneva. “It’s an astonishing ruling. It basically means one of our biggest trade partners took one of our citizens and, despite his innocence, locked him up for years, beat him, broke his bones, kicked his head in, stole his money, assets and businesses then spat him out back to the UK and expects to just get away with it much like Saudi Arabia did after Khashoggi.”

Albert is determined not to let that happen. He knows British citizens have died in custody, that they’ve been beaten, broken, electrocuted and violated and that this cannot be allowed to continue. “Albert wants to make sure the UAE is held to account and that the failings of the FCDO and the UK government are brought to light”, says Stirling who was relieved to celebrate Albert’s return at Christmas.

“We are working to get justice for Albert. He has suffered greatly and we can not just allow it to continue”.