Torture : the crown prince of Abu Dhabi in the viewfinder of the French justice

A criminal investigation was opened in October 2019 in Paris against the "MBZ".

A French investigating judge is in charge of an investigation into Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyane, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, on a possible "complicity of torture" on the background of the war in Yemen, has learned this Friday, the AFP from a number of sources close to the matter.

A criminal investigation was opened in October 2019 in Paris against the one who is dubbed "MBZ", against whom two complaints with constitution of civil part, had been deposited when he made an official visit to Paris in November 2018.

complaints with constitution of civil part allow quasi-automatically to obtain the opening of a judicial inquiry and the appointment of an investigating judge to conduct the investigations.

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READ ALSO >> MBZ accused of "complicity in war crimes"

under its "universal jurisdiction" for the most serious crimes, the French justice has the possibility to prosecute and condemn the perpetrators and accomplices of these crimes when they are on the French territory.

acts of torture in detention centres

During his visit in France, on November 21, 2018, Mohammed bin Zayed had talked of the situation in the Middle East with the president and Emmanuel Macron, in particular on the conflict in Yemen, where Abu Dhabi is engaged in a coalition on the side of saudi Arabia against the rebels Houthis, who occupy the capital Sana'a since 2014.

"My clients are excited about the opening of information and great hopes on the French justice system," responded to AFP Joseph Breham, who is defending the six Yemeni who had filed the complaint with constitution of civil part to the dean of investigating judges at the pole, crimes against humanity, the tribunal of Paris.

READ ALSO >> The war without witnesses in the Yemen

They denounced acts of torture committed in detention centres controlled by the armed forces of the united arab Emirates. Mohammed bin Zayed being the supreme commander of the armed forces of the united arab Emirates, it is "likely to have provided the means and the instructions for the execution of these crimes", said the complaint.

The war in Yemen has left tens of thousands dead, mostly civilians. In July 2019, the united arab Emirates, the main ally of saudi Arabia, have decided to reduce their military presence.

Date Of Update: 18 July 2020, 09:58