A government official from the UAE confirmed that Ghafoor was arrested while at Dubai International Airport
Authorities in the United Arab Emirates took him into custody Asim Ghafooran American citizen and civil rights attorney who previously defended the slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi, announced the American human rights organization DAWN, on whose board Ghafoor participates as a member.
A government official from the UAE confirmed that Ghafoor was arrested while at Dubai International Airport, a stopover on a trip on July 14, on charges related to his money laundering conviction in absentia.
Saudi journalist Khashoggi was killed by Saudi agents in 2018 at the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul in an operation that US intelligence said was approved by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The prince denies any involvement.
The organization DAWN (Democracy for the Arab World Now) said in a statement on Friday that Ghafoor was traveling to Istanbul to attend a wedding.
The Emirati official told Reuters that the UAE had granted the US embassy’s request for a consular visit and that as the trial was held in absentia, Ghafoor could request a retrial. “A request has been received and approved, leading to the reopening of the case, and related legal proceedings are ongoing“, the official said.
According to DAWN, US consulate officials said the lawyer was being held in Abu Dhabi and that Ghafoor said he was not aware of any legal case against him. The organization said his conviction was carried out “without due process” and called for his immediate release.
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