The UK’s Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) recently published a report detailing the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)’s failure to protect British Citizen Matthew Hedges, who was subjected to torture in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Their findings come in the wake of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s verdict on August 3, which also leveled similar accusations against the FCDO.
Matthew Hedges, a UK national, was arbitrarily incarcerated in the UAE. The committee’s report propounds the systemic lapses in the government’s response to such arbitrary detentions, emphasizing shortcomings in communication with families, a reluctance to take assertive action in cases of mistreatment and denial of consular access, and an inability to learn from past mistakes.
Raising strong objections to the government’s culture of defensiveness and its disinterest in addressing criticism, the committee highlighted that the government had abstained from accepting the majority of its suggestions featured in the committee’s 2023 state-level hostage-taking report.
The FAC urged the government to institute improvements such as a comprehensive review of guidance on torture and mistreatment cases, reassessment of ongoing cases, and the designation of a Director for Complex and Arbitrary Detentions. It underscored the necessity of enhancing coordination and support for families and advocating a more proactive approach in cases where there has been a dereliction of consular access or reports of mistreatment.
In an interview with JURIST, Matthew Hedges deplored the institutional failings of the FCDO, expressing his disappointment that despite a four-year Ombudsman investigation and subsequent FAC report, little has been done to effect necessary changes. He pointed out that British Citizens are often ignored by their own Government when they find themselves in dire situations overseas.
Hedges emphasized his concerns by referring to the cases of Jagtar Singh in India and Ala And Fattah in Egypt, both of whom he claims were neglected by the UK government and left at the mercy of their tormentors. The Foreign Office, when approached by JURIST for a comment, declined the opportunity to respond.
The inability of the FCDO to confront these shortcomings will likely add impetus to the existing calls for reform and more robust processes to protect UK citizens abroad.