On Thursday, the European Parliament passed three emergency resolutions addressing serious human rights abuses in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the
Central African Republic (CAR), and Syria.
Ongoing detention of Ryan Cornelius in the UAE
MEPs called for the immediate and unconditional release of Ryan Cornelius, a 71-year-old British citizen who has been imprisoned in Dubai since 2008. The resolution condemned his inhumane detention conditions and urged the UAE to abolish the practice of imprisoning individuals for debt, in line with international human rights standards.
Parliament noted that the assets seized in his case far exceed the debt owed and demanded that Cornelius be granted the right to compensation and other legal remedies. Initially sentenced to 10 years for alleged fraud, his sentence was unlawfully extended by another 20 years under a retroactively applied law, violating international legal norms.
MEPs called on the UK government, the EU’s Human Rights Special Representative, and the EU Delegation to the UAE to raise this issue in all bilateral discussions. They highlighted that the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has deemed his imprisonment illegal, citing forced confessions, denial of legal representation, and a lack of due process.
The resolution was adopted with 511 votes in favour, 50 against, and 75 abstentions.
Arbitrary detention and mistreatment of Joseph Figueira Martin in the Central African Republic
Parliament strongly condemned ongoing human rights abuses in the CAR, particularly the arbitrary arrest and detention of Belgian-Portuguese researcher and humanitarian worker Joseph Figueira Martin. MEPs expressed grave concern over his inhumane detention conditions, which endanger his health and life, and demanded that he receive immediate legal representation, consular access, medical care, and a swift authorisation for his medical evacuation.
The resolution highlighted the role of armed groups in unlawful detentions and attacks against aid workers and denounced increasing foreign political interference in the CAR, including actions by Russian paramilitary forces and disinformation campaigns.
MEPs reiterated their call for the Wagner Group to be designated a terrorist organisation and stressed that human rights protections are a prerequisite for constructive EU-CAR cooperation.
The resolution passed with 617 votes in favour, 4 against, and 18 abstentions.
Protection of religious minorities in Syria after the Mar Elias Church attack
In response to the recent terrorist attack on the Mar Elias Church in Damascus, Parliament condemned the violence targeting Syria’s religious and ethnic communities. MEPs expressed solidarity with the victims and highlighted the particular vulnerability of Christian communities in the region.
The resolution raised concerns about members of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) with histories of serious human rights abuses assuming roles in Syria’s transitional administration, warning of potential risks to religious freedoms.
MEPs called on Syrian authorities to conduct independent, transparent investigations into the attacks, prosecute those responsible, and safeguard freedom of religion and protection for all communities. They reaffirmed the EU’s support for a human rights-based political transition in Syria, including a gradual lifting of sanctions conditioned on tangible human rights improvements.
Parliament urged Syrian transitional leaders to present a clear timeline for free, fair, and inclusive elections and recommended that the EU establish a reconstruction fund for Syria, contingent upon progress in human rights and governance reforms. Additionally, MEPs called for targeted sanctions against individuals responsible for religious freedom violations and underscored the need for continued efforts to combat Islamist terrorism.
The resolution was adopted with 625 votes in favour, 7 against, and 10 abstentions.