U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs Must Uphold Its Responsibility to Protect the Lives and Interests of U.S. Citizens Abroad and Call Upon U.A.E. to Allow Immediate and Independent Medical Care for Zack Shahin

-U.S. Legal Counsel to Zack Shahin Urges Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Janice L. Jacobs to Maintain Pressure on the U.A.E. Government for Shahin's Medical Care-

WASHINGTON, June 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As Zack Shahin enters day 30 of his hunger strike in protest of the U.S. government's refusal to publicly challenge Dubai's numerous due process violations in his case and call for his immediate and reasonable bail, it is obvious that he will soon require long-term medical care. Following the recent hospitalization of fellow hunger strikers, including British citizen Safi Qarashi, who was reportedly physically mistreated by prison medical staff, it is increasingly apparent that Dubai's prison medical staff are unable to properly treat prisoners.  In light of these disturbing reports of prisoner abuse and Zack's previous unsatisfactory experiences with prison medical staff, U.S. legal counsel to Zack Shahin have renewed their request to the U.S. government that it calls upon the U.A.E. government to permit immediate and independent medical care for Zack Shahin and issued the following statement:

"The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs' mission is to 'protect the lives and interests of American citizens abroad.'  For over four years, Zack Shahin has waited for his government to protect his interests and publicly challenge U.A.E.'s due process violations and disregard for the rule of law.  Even after his hunger strike in protest of the U.S. government's timidity, there has been silence. Unfortunately, Zack is entering a critical stage of his protest and the damage to his body is serious, probably permanent, and possibly deadly. He needs immediate medical care, but the prison medical staff have mistreated him previously and reportedly recently abused other hunger strikers. We appreciate the effort of Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Janice L. Jacobs in discussing his case privately with the U.A.E. ambassador in Washington. We urge Assistant Secretary Jacobs to continue upholding her responsibility to protect the life and interests of Zack, continue the pressure on the U.A.E. government and call upon Dubai authorities to allow immediate and independent medical care for Zack, for which the Shahin family will pay for. Only with a qualified and independent medical doctor, will Zack have an opportunity to recover from the prior and current damage inflicted upon his body."

For more information on Zack Shahin and his nearly 30-day hunger strike protesting U.S. government timidity in publicly calling on the U.A.E. to grant his immediate and reasonable bail and to hold a fair and open trial, please visit www.FreeZack.com.

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

CONTACT: Darren Spinck, [email protected], 202-669-4418

SOURCE U.S. Legal Counsel for Zack Shahin