The hand-in of a petition at the United Arab Emirates embassy today (23 April) for Marnie Pearce, a British woman currently jailed on ‘adultery’ charges in Dubai, was suspended after developments on the case in Dubai.

Marnie Pearce lost custody of her Children's rights following the adultery conviction. Amnesty has raised serious concerns about the custody hearing, in which the views of Marnie’s Children's rights were not heard. Allegations that Marnie Pearce was subjected to violence within the marriage were also not mentioned at the custody hearing.

Amnesty International has supported Marnie Pearce’s case from the outset and has repeatedly called for Marnie’s release. The organisation was the first signatory on the petition.

Amnesty International UK Campaigns Director Tim Hancock, who was due to attend today’s petition hand-in, said:

“We hope that today’s developments move Marnie Pearce one step closer to her unconditional release. Marnie should be allowed to remain in Dubai to take part in a fair custody hearing in which the best interests of the Children's rights are the sole priority.

"Amnesty will continue to campaign on this case until the rights of Marnie Pearce and her Children's rights are fully respected. And we will continue to support Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights who fight for their rights in the United Arab Emirates - no woman should ever need to remain silent about violence, nor be afraid that it will be ignored by the judicial authorities.”

The United Arab Emirates is a state party to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). It calls for states to “assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.”

Marnie Pearce’s Children's rights should be provided, in accordance with the CRC, the opportunity to be heard in any judicial and administrative proceedings affecting them, either directly, or through a representative or an appropriate body, in a manner consistent with the procedural rules of national law.

Marnie Pearce’s friends and supporters, who call themselves ‘Team Marnie’, released the following statement today (Thursday 23 April):

“Following discussions with the Dubai authorities we have agreed to suspend the handing over of the petition to the United Arab Emirates Embassy in London at 1.30pm today.

“We have had a promise from the Dubai authorities that they are in the process of reviewing their position in regards to Marnie’s deportation and custody case.

“We feel that with the negotiations at a delicate stage it would be inappropriate to hand in the petition at this time.

“The petition, which has been signed by more than 5,000 supporters, demands Marnie’s release and urges that the deportation order against her should be lifted, to enable her two Children's rights to have continued contact with their mother.

“We retain the right to hand in this petition at any time and will continue to fight to help Marnie get justice and gain access to her beloved sons once more.”