Why Does the U.S. Government Refuse to Speak Out on Behalf of an American Citizen Denied Due Process in Dubai?

For nearly five years, American citizen ZACK SHAHIN has been held in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) without an opportunity to demonstrate his innocence in open court.

During that time the U.S. government has spoken out publicly in defense of numerous individuals, many of them not U.S. citizens.

But about Zack, there is mostly silence.

Now, in desperation, he has declared a hunger strike.

Does Zack have to die in pre-trial detention before our government shows him the same consideration extended to non-Americans?

Zack Shahin is an American citizen held since March 2008 in pretrial detention in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), accused falsely on various corruption charges related to Deyaar Development, in which he was a former top executive. Despite over four years of supposed “investigation” following his post-arrest torture, Dubai authorities have refused to bring him to trial where he would have an opportunity to establish his innocence. Instead, he repeatedly has been “released” on bail, then immediately rearrested, only to face endless delays of his case for over four years. He suffers in prison from heart and other serious health problems. (A detailed description of Zack’s ordeal is available here.)

The U.S. Department of State privately has sent at least four formal Diplomatic Notes expressing concerns about Zack’s treatment to the UAE government about the Dubai authorities’ failure either to try him or release him. None have been answered. Congressional letters to the UAE embassy in Washington likewise have remained unacknowledged. Members of the U.S. Cabinet have privately raised Zack’s case – and have been similarly snubbed. Read More