The Al-Thanis change legal strategy for Rakan

The Al-Thanis are changing their legal strategy. Rakan Al-Thani’s defence has broadened its appeal and is now challenging the arguments used to keep the sheikh’s son in pre-trial detention. His lawyers are contesting the accusations against their client, as well as the basis for the judicial decision and the safeguards of the proceedings.

The appeal argues that the decision does not adequately explain why imprisonment is necessary and proportionate. The lawyers also say that Rakan’s statement on 8 October, after his arrest in Germany, was not properly assessed. They criticise the continued application of the decision made in June without weighing the circumstances that arose afterwards.

The defence also argues that Rakan did not try to evade justice. It further challenges whether the orders concerning abbreviated proceedings and the opening of an oral trial describe Rakan’s alleged participation in the investigated events with sufficient precision.

The new defence strategy therefore opens two fronts: disputing the accusations and challenging the need to keep Rakan in prison. His lawyers argue that the pre-trial detention and the evidence cited against him should be examined separately.