Lawyers acting for two Jordanian citizens who have been detained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since 2014 have lodged petitions with the UN claiming they are victims of an internal power struggle within the emirate of Ras al-Khaimah.
Jihad Quzmar and Karam al-Sadeq are serving lengthy prison sentences there after being convicted of offences including the unlawful seizure of public funds, money laundering, bribery and corruption. Both men have denied wrongdoing.
The petitions to the UN claim that they are the victims of arbitrary arrest and mistreatment in prison, and call for their immediate release.
The BBC has approached Ras al-Khaimah's authorities for comment.
The son of Jihad Quzmar has told the BBC of the emotional toll on his family of the long years of his father's incarceration.
