Hunger-Striking American Zack Shahin Denied Access to Independent Medical Examination

- "Secretary Hillary Clinton, When Will You Speak Out for Zack?" -

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, June 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Zack Shahin, an American citizen on a hunger strike in a Dubai prison for over five weeks, was informed today he still will be denied independent medical examination.  

According to a statement released today by Shahin's US legal counsel:

"After over 36 days without food,  Zack was again informed by a US consular official that he will not be examined by an independent physician to ascertain the true state of his increasingly frail medical condition.  Instead, he has been given only a haphazard examination by a prison doctor, who pronounced him 'fit to stand trial' – a trial he continues to be denied, along with reasonable bail.

"His voice beginning to fail from the effects of his ordeal, Zack clearly is nearing physical collapse. Still, he remains determined in his insistence the top US officials – especially Secretary of State Hillary Clinton – demand that Dubai authorities release him on reasonable bail or give him a date for a fair and public trial, where he can show his innocence.  

"Instead, top US officials, such as Secretary Clinton, who readily speak out for prominent non-Americans accused of serious crimes, such as Yulia Tymoshenko in Ukraine or Mikhail Khodorkovsky in Russia, continue to ignore Zack.  As documented by the official US-government network 'Voice of America,' the only official public mentions of Zack's plight have been a short statement of concern from the Consulate General in Dubai and a response to a reporter's question at the State Department press briefing, urging bail and consolidation of the cases against him.  VOA also contacted the UAE embassy in Washington, which refused comment.

"Still, as Zack faces a terrible end of his ordeal in the foreseeable future, there has been complete silence from top American officials to whom UAE and Dubai would actually listen: Secretary of State Clinton, U.S. Ambassador to the U.A.E. Michael Corbin, Under Secretary for Human Rights Maria Otero, Near East Assistant Secretary Jeffrey Feltman. 

"We again renew our insistent request: Secretary Hillary Clinton, When Will You Speak Out for Zack?"

Link to VOA story: "American Businessman on Hunger Strike in Dubai Jail" http://www.middleeastvoices.com/2012/06/american-businessman-on-hunger-strike-in-dubai-jail-52448/

For more information on Zack Shahin's hunger strike in protest of U.S. government timidity to publicly speak out against Dubai's due process violation and disregard for the rule of law in his case, please visit www.FreeZack.com.

U.S. legal counsel to Zack Shahin are: Jim Jatras, Rebekah Poston, and Eric Akers.

CONTACT: Darren Spinck (202-669-4418 / [email protected])

SOURCE U.S. Legal Counsel for Zack Shahin