My name is Ali Issa Ahmad, 26. I’m a security guard from Wolverhampton and in January 2019, I went on holiday to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to watch the AFC Asian CUP 2019.

I watched several games and on January 22nd I went to watch the Iraq vs Qatar match. I chose to support Qatar for this match because I thought they were playing well in the tournament and enjoyed watching them. I didn't know that by wearing a t-shirt with the Qatar flag I would suffer torture, abuse, imprisonment and a stabbing.   

It’s hard to believe that simply wearing the wrong football shirt could lead to assault, interrogation and imprisonment. But that is what happened to me.

I want to hold the UAE to account for the treatment I received and set an example that torture and arbitrary detention has no place in modern society. Please support my legal action by contributing anything you can to help fund my case and sharing this page on social media and with your friends and family. Every contribution will really help me fight the injustice and abuse I suffered.

Case Background

While on holiday, I watched an Asian Cup match between Qatar and Iraq and wore a Qatar shirt to the match. 

I was completely unaware that doing so is an offence in the UAE punishable with a large fine and an extended jail sentence.

I was arrested, interrogated and tortured. I was deprived of sleep, food and water for several days while being held in a security building. The UAE authorities said I inflicted the wounds on myself and arrested me for wasting their time. I was then stabbed in prison and almost died. This whole nightmare began because I was wearing a Qatar shirt at an internationally recognised sporting event.

I was detained for three weeks against my will.

I am lucky that after three weeks I was released from the cell I was being held in and now I am happy to be finally back in the UK. I have suffered greatly both physically and mentally. 

My legal action 

I hope that bringing a legal action will not only help me but also prevent the UAE government from treating others in the way they treated me.

I am going to bring a human rights claim against the UAE for the physical harm I suffered.

I am asking the UK Foreign Office to open an investigation into my torture and detention. 

I am also submitting a complaint to the UN Working Group on Arbitary Detention and asking them to open an investigation.

Initially, I will be raising £3k to get the legal activity moving but I will then go on to raise further funds to secure legal representation throughout this complex, international legal case. 

Thank you so much for any support you can provide.