The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) has promised to investigate the case of Hassan Mohammad Ibrahim, 45, who has been held in Dubai Central Prison in the UAE for the past 13 years for failure to pay his debts, according to the society's Eastern Province branch supervisor, Jumaa Bin Abdullah Al-Dosari. He said the decision to launch an investigation was taken after the society received a letter signed by the eight sisters of the prisoner asking for help to release their brother. Al-Dosari said that the society will look at all the facts after a worker from the women's section of the society interviews the sisters. He said the NSHR will offer every assistance possible, especially since the women have no one to support them except for their imprisoned brother. Ibrahim's family has sought the intervention of the NSHR to help free their brother, who is their sole supporter since their father died leaving eight adult daughters alone in a rundown house on Darin Island in the east of the province. Taibah and Fatima, two of the prisoner's sisters, said their brother was an employee of a company in the Eastern Province when he met a businessman who offered him a job at a commercial office in the UAE. The brother agreed and moved to the UAE to work there, but was always careful to take care of his family's needs. However, 13 years ago he disappeared and his whereabouts were unknown despite many efforts to locate him. It was not until a telephone call was made to a detainee at Dubai Central Prison that the family learned that Ibrahim was imprisoned as a result of his business losses and his failure to pay debts that he owed to various parties. During his time in prison, his wife and father died, but he was not able to attend their funerals. The two sisters added, “We must have our brother home with us. We have no one to take care of us and provide our livelihood. We suffer a lot, especially at night. We are so afraid that we spend the night in a locked room waiting for the dawn.” In a phone call Okaz made to Ibrahim in prison, he said, “My father and my wife passed away and I could not attend their funerals, which added to my suffering in prison.” On the reasons that brought him there, he said, “I started a business, but it was my destiny that I lost money and ended up owing people more than a million dirhams. After part of it was redeemed and some other people dropped their claims, I was left owing 188,760 dirhams which I could not pay back as I was completely broke. A court of first instance in Dubai ordered my detention till the sum is paid. I have been in prison for 13 years.” Emad Madani, a Consul at the Saudi Embassy in UAE, said that there were several Saudi nationals in Dubai Central Prison for failure to pay their debts. He said that the embassy has appointed a lawyer to handle all their cases. “Sentences against him (Ibrahim) and the other prisoners cannot be overturned unless the sums are paid or the debtors drop their claims in which case the prisoners will be freed,” Madani added.
