Naim Aziz Abbas, a 63-year-old Australian citizen who lives in Dubai, was arrested in October 2017 and was charged in August this year with suspected espionage.
His Sydney-based brother, Adil Abbas, told SBS Arabic24 that there had been a “wrong judgment” by the officer who interrogated Naim and that he is certain of his brother’s innocence.
Although his lawyer assured Mr Abbas that he became “more confident” of a solid defence submission, Naim, through a phone call with his brother Adil on Sunday night, asked the Australian government for similar efforts in his case to those that led to “the pardon of Australian filmmaker James Ricketson.”
Iraqi-born Naim Abbas, who is an Australian citizen, moved to Dubai in 2009 to work for the UAE Roads and Transport Authority.
In October 2017, he was arrested and kept in a solitary confinement for interrogation and was unable to see his lawyer, according to his family.
Source: AAP
Adil Abbas said his brother claimed that authorities "tricked him (Naim Aziz Abbas) into signing a document - a false confession" relating to espionage.
"He's been charged with communicating with a foreign state or with anyone who works in their interest to carry out a terrorist attack," Adil Abbas said.
"He's been in the middle of tensions between UAE and Qatar and he's (now) a scapegoat," he said.
The Sydney-based brother said that it was only in May this year that Naim was able to see his lawyer after he was sent to Al Wathba Prison.
Naim Abbas is diabetic and according to his brother, Adil, is suffering a lot in obtaining his medication as there “is only a relatively small clinic with little medicine supply in the prison.”
Naim Abbas' brother says he “lost nearly 25 kg after being moved to Al Wathba Prison.”
In August, Naim Abbas also raised fears for his safety, citing concerns that other inmates may have it in for him, as he is of a different Muslim sect.
His brother Adil confirmed that “Naim told the Australian Consul in Dubai of his concerns of potential harm if he explicitly expressed his views before those inmates.”
The Australian consulate in Dubai conveyed Naim’s concerns to the UAE authorities, but the reply was “Al Wathba is the only prison that authorities can keep Naim in,” according to Adil Abbas.
Source: CC
A spokesperson for DFAT told SBS Arabic24 in a statement “DFAT consular officials in UAE have met Mr Abbas and are providing consular assistance, including liaising with his family in Australia.”
The statement also said “Mr Abbas’ case has been raised privately with the UAE government,” and cited “privacy considerations” for not providing further comment on the matter.
