Washington and U.S. State Department officials in the United Arab Emirates Must Continue Calling for a Consolidation of U.S. Citizen Zack Shahin's Remaining Cases in Dubai, Immediate and Reasonable Bail, and a Fair and Open Trial

WASHINGTON, July 3, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As U.S. citizen Zack Shahin prepares for three separate procedural court hearings this week in Dubai, it is hoped that the Dubai judicial system heeds the words from the U.S. government regarding Shahin's deprivation of due process since his arrest in 2008.  In a strongly worded statement, the U.S. Charge d'Affaires in the United Arab Emirates, L. Victor Hurtado, stated on June 29 that "We continue to urge the authorities to release him on bail, as has been approved but not carried out in the past. In addition, we urge that the several outstanding pending cases against Mr. Shahin can be consolidated, allowing him to defend himself more effectively."  As Shahin's ordeal continues in his Dubai prison cell, there is an opportunity for Dubai's judicial system to demonstrate to senior U.S. government officials that there is rule of law in Dubai and that due process rights do apply to non-Emirati defendants.  The judges presiding over Shahin's procedural hearings are urged to collaborate with senior Dubai judicial system officials to consolidate all remaining pending cases so Shahin may more effectively prove his innocence in an open and fair court hearing, and grant one immediate and reasonable bail bond for Shahin that encompasses all remaining charges.