The torture started with a single slap after Luke Symons had refused to confess to spying for the UK during his first year in prison and the interrogators decided to change tactics.
He was summoned from his crowded cell at a prison in Sanaa, Yemen and his gaoler started with goading and insults about his appearance. Then he forced Mr Symons to his feet, pushed his chair away and slapped him around the face.
“About seven of them came then," said Mr Symons. "The first one kneed me in the stomach, the next one punched me in the face, another one hit me with a pole on the back of my head.
"That went on from 8 at night until 4 in the morning.”
With his hands bound behind his back he was completely defenceless. He said the brutal attack stopped only with the call to morning prayer.
“I lost consciousness three or four times," Mr Symons told The National. "When I woke up they were still stamping on my head. I stood myself up and just took it."
When it was all over, they dragged him to a desk with a 20-sheet pile of documents and forced his thumb on to an ink pad and pressed it down to make his mark.
That was the extent of his 'confession' throughout his five-year jail term. While the beatings never ended, his interrogators appeared to accept that forcing a confession through extreme violence was destined to fail.
The next time the former kickboxer was summoned for interrogation, they gave him a cup of tea and chocolate and pretended to be his friend.
The beatings never stopped but a senior Houthi official signed a release order in late 2018 admitting that they had no evidence against Mr Symons. But still, he wasn’t released for another three-plus years.
Staying alive
He never knew quite what he had ‘confessed’ to in the documents but was later told he had admitted attacking Houthi fighters using a rocket launcher. Mr Symons said he had never fought the Houthis and had moved around the country to avoid them before a failed attempt to flee with his Yemeni wife led to his arrest in April 2017.
His young family – his wife and son Hoode, now 5 and born just before his arrest – gave him a reason to endure the punishment.
“I had a family outside waiting for me, so I couldn’t do anything silly,” he said, now back at his grandparents’ home in the Welsh capital Cardiff. “But I would have been happy for one of them to kill me there and not go on being in prison. That was the state of mind I was in.”
Mr Symons’ account of life in Yemen’s jails is unremittingly bleak, featuring routine abuse of prisoners, horrific conditions and the manipulation of international humanitarian agencies trying to protect the rights of captives.
His first place of detention in the southern city of Taez was a derelict apartment with holes from tank shells in the walls. One prisoner left through an unlocked door and walked to a local pharmacy to buy medication for his diabetes before returning to custody.
He got beaten for his pains and the 20 or so prisoners moved to another part of the building where their armed guards were aged about 12 and dragged their guns behind them on the ground, Mr Symons said.
A week later, Mr Symons was told he was free to go and was about to leave on his motorbike when a car pulled up and he was taken away again at gunpoint by another Houthi faction.
“They told me to wear a blindfold, put me in a car, drove me somewhere – I don't even know where – for like three hours,” he said.
“I thought they were going to kill me and get rid of my body. I could see under the blindfold a bit – and the gun was there in my face with his hand on the trigger.”
He was taken to a prison in Ibb, a town north of Taez where he was kept on his own outdoors in burning heat, sleeping on the ground using his slippers for a pillow and his jacket as a blanket.
An interrogator questioned him while holding a Taser close to his ear and encouraging him to confess to being a British spy. The interrogator didn’t discharge the Taser – and Mr Symons didn’t confess.
Rule by fear
He was held there for about four months before being moved to Sanaa.
“They have a policy," Mr Symons told The National. "What they do when new prisoners come is to scare them. So they start putting the chainsaws on, saying – 'which one’s first?'”
The prison guards also ostentatiously sharpened knives and hit the inmates with bats on their way into the jail, he said. “I had special treatment because I wasn’t Yemeni," he said. "They pulled me aside … they started smacking me in the head.”
He was kept in a cramped, tiny room with 24 people and only one toilet. The inmates had to squeeze into a space less than the width of two hands if they wanted to lie down to sleep.
Disturbances in an adjoining room meant the numbers rose to 40 and they had a shift system to sleep. If anyone used the toilet, they lost their place. Mr Symons said he saw the sun once in five months.
One sick man was taken for tests for suspected tuberculosis. “He came back positive," said Mr Symons. "They put him back in the room, where he died.”
Disputes and fighting were rife, with bitter enemies captured by the Houthis forced together in the tiny rooms.
He said: “There were different groups: ISIS, Al Qaeda … loads of groups in the same room, they don’t get along with each other. So every day there’s fights, there’s people getting stabbed, people getting sliced up.
“The guards, if there’s no fights in the day, they open the flap on the door and they say, 'what’s going on?' They want you to fight, so they can bring you out and beat you up. They used to get fun out of it.”
He tried to keep out of the fights and found common cause when he moved to another room with a French inmate who was being targeted by ISIS. They exercised together by running on the spot. The Frenchman was released shortly after Mr Symons' aborted release in October 2020.
During his five years behind bars without charge or trial, Mr Symons received a single visit from an official from the UN Special Envoy for Yemen in April 2019. He was taken from the prison to a “large mansion” for the meeting.
At the meeting, Mr Symons says he was told that Red Cross officials would visit the jail in a couple of weeks to take away foreign prisoners. Just before the scheduled visit, he was locked up in a small room and never saw anyone. He later learnt from other inmates – by speaking to them from his solitary confinement using the prison's water pipes – that Bengali, Indian, Somali and Ethiopian prisoners had all left.
Lost in translation
Communication with the outside world was also sporadic and unreliable, not helped by the three-way communication between Mr Symons, his family in Yemen and those in Cardiff.
Because of a mistranslation, Mr Symons for two months mistakenly thought that his beloved grandmother in Cardiff had died.
“I made a promise to myself, if my Nan died while I was in prison I’m not going out of this prison except in a coffin,” he said.
British MPs are conducting an inquiry into state hostage-taking, but are focusing on Iran and higher-profile cases, such as Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. But the level of brutality experienced by Mr Symons in Yemen’s jail system is of a different and more horrifying order, says his family.
The treatment has clearly taken its toll. Although he has been passed as physically healthy, Mr Symons says he suffers from lapses of concentration and struggles to maintain his patience. At one point, he is unable to follow his train of thought and struggles to remember details about the day of his day of his release from jail.
He is now seeking counselling and treatment to deal with the long-term effects of his unjust detention.
“I can’t sleep with the door closed," he said. "For a week or two, I didn’t want to be with anyone. I wanted to be in a closed room. I couldn’t sleep.
“Sometimes I don’t feel free because I’ve been traumatised,” he said, as his energetic young son dashes around the house. “I don’t have no future, so I look out for my son now.”
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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Sting & Shaggy
44/876
(Interscope)
2020 Oscars winners: in numbers
- Parasite – 4
- 1917– 3
- Ford v Ferrari – 2
- Joker – 2
- Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood – 2
- American Factory – 1
- Bombshell – 1
- Hair Love – 1
- Jojo Rabbit – 1
- Judy – 1
- Little Women – 1
- Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl) – 1
- Marriage Story – 1
- Rocketman – 1
- The Neighbors' Window – 1
- Toy Story 4 – 1
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German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
More from Aya Iskandarani
Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
UAE v Ireland
1st ODI, UAE win by 6 wickets
2nd ODI, January 12
3rd ODI, January 14
4th ODI, January 16
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
Match info
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Liverpool v Porto, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE)
Matches can be watched on BeIN Sports
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Uefa Nations League: How it works
The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.
The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.
Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.
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PRO BASH
Thursday’s fixtures
6pm: Hyderabad Nawabs v Pakhtoon Warriors
10pm: Lahore Sikandars v Pakhtoon Blasters
Teams
Chennai Knights, Lahore Sikandars, Pakhtoon Blasters, Abu Dhabi Stars, Abu Dhabi Dragons, Pakhtoon Warriors and Hyderabad Nawabs.
Squad rules
All teams consist of 15-player squads that include those contracted in the diamond (3), platinum (2) and gold (2) categories, plus eight free to sign team members.
Tournament rules
The matches are of 25 over-a-side with an 8-over power play in which only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Teams play in a single round robin league followed by the semi-finals and final. The league toppers will feature in the semi-final eliminator.
How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
2252 - Dh50
6025 - Dh20
6027 - Dh100
6026 - Dh200
Tuesday results:
- Singapore bt Malaysia by 29 runs
- UAE bt Oman by 13 runs
- Hong Kong bt Nepal by 3 wickets
Final:
Thursday, UAE v Hong Kong
Read more from Johann Chacko
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
The biog
Name: Timothy Husband
Nationality: New Zealand
Education: Degree in zoology at The University of Sydney
Favourite book: Lemurs of Madagascar by Russell A Mittermeier
Favourite music: Billy Joel
Weekends and holidays: Talking about animals or visiting his farm in Australia
'The Batman'
Stars:Robert Pattinson
Director:Matt Reeves
Rating: 5/5
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
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