Year of Call: 2000 / Year of Silk: 2014
Practice Areas
Rodney Dixon QC has a diverse practice in the UK and globally in international law, public law, inquiries, compliance and regulation, and human rights. He appears on behalf of Governments, serving and former Heads of State, politicians, military commanders, individual complainants and defendants, international organisations, companies and businesses, NGOs, and victim groups. He specialises in public international law, international criminal law, and human rights and civil liberties before all international, regional and national courts. His expertise lies in cases concerning foreign relations, inter-State disputes, the armed forces, international prosecutions and defence, public inquiries, universal jurisdiction, claims with international components, mediation and arbitration, cross-border proceedings, asset recovery, extradition and mutual assistance. He is described in Chambers and Partners “as an exceptional barrister with clients on every continent” and “respected for his excellent advocacy skills and strong client care”.
Rodney has particular experience acting for Governments undertaking national investigations and restorative justice programs that comply with international standards. He has, for example, represented the Government of Kenya before the ICC in respect of charges brought against the President, Vice President and others (including in respect of asserting national sovereignty over the cases, disclosure requests, national security issues, official immunity, and relations with international organisations) – none of the cases have proceeded at the ICC; and the former Government of Afghanistan in seeking a deferral of the ICC investigation to the national system – an agreement was being sought with the ICC at the time the Government changed. He has also acted for the UK Government in respect of allegations against UK armed forces arising from the Iraq conflict – the ICC Prosecutor decided not to proceed on the basis of the national investigations being conducted in the UK. He advised the Government of South Sudan in advancing the national criminal justice system and truth building mechanisms with a view to creating and strengthening national justice institutions. When Zimbabwe faced international calls for an investigation Rodney was appointed by the President of Zimbabwe to serve on the national Commission of Inquiry into post-election violence that was chaired by the former President of South Africa.
Rodney’s work covers all international criminal courts; UN proceedings, claims, and special procedures; actions before the International Court of Justice (ICJ); cases at the European Court of Human Rights; applications before the African Commission and African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights; Privy Council cases; bilateral investment treaty matters; territorial and border disputes; public inquiries and investigations; World Bank Sanctions Board proceedings; land claims and reparations; corporate compliance and regulation; detentions abroad; Interpol and international and European arrest warrants; and, private international law cases.
He is widely recognised as a leading counsel and expert for all international criminal courts and regularly appears before the ICC and other international criminal courts like the ICTY and ICTR for individual defendants, States, and victims, including on behalf of the UK Government; the Government of Afghanistan; the Government of Kenya; the Comoros Government; the former Government of Egypt; the Government of Rwanda; the Prime Minister of Kosovo; Mr. Abdullah Al-Senussi; victims of the Gaza Flotilla raid; and, interveners in the Sudan ICC Situation in the case concerning President Al Bashir, and victims from Darfur. He is one of a handful of lawyers who has both prosecuted and defended in international courts. He has acted and advised before other hybrid courts including the Special Court for Sierra Leone, the Iraqi Special Tribunal, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, and the War Crimes Division of the High Court of Uganda.
Rodney is highly respected in the field of public inquiries and investigations. He was appointed as a Commissioner on the National Commission of Inquiry into post election violence in Zimbabwe following the elections there in August 2018. He has previously been instructed in several inquiries including, the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Disappeared Persons in Sri Lanka; for victims in the Jamaican Commission of Inquiry into the Tivoli Gardens killings; and, as part of the counsel team for the UK Ministry of Defence in the Baha Mousa public inquiry. He was instructed by the Government of South Sudan as an international adviser in respect of legal and judicial reforms under the 2015 Peace Agreement following the civil war. He has advised the Government of Qatar regarding the land, air and sea blockade imposed on the country in 2017. His cases before the European Court of Human Rights have included for the Government of Georgia concerning the conflicts in South Ossetia and Abkhazia and for the Ukrainian Government regarding the occupation of Crimea and Eastern Ukraine. He has acted in cases and hearings before the African Court and African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights including in relation to mass death sentences imposed in Egypt. He has represented many persons arbitrarily detained abroad, including the former President of South Korea, prominent Moroccan journalist Taoufik Bouachrine, and women detained in Saudi Arabia. Rodney is currently acting for Durham University academic, Matthew Hedges, who was held in solitary confinement in the UAE.
Rodney is the co-author of the leading textbook Archbold International on the law, procedure and practice of all international criminal courts, now in its 5th Edition (Sweet & Maxwell). It has been described by Justice Richard Goldstone, the former Chief Prosecutor of the ICTY and ICTR, as the book that “will always be open on the desks in offices” at the courts in The Hague.
Rodney has advised and lectured in the fields of bribery and corruption, money laundering, and cybercrime, with particular emphasis on the cross-border aspects and inter-State co-operation. He regularly lectures at conferences and seminars on international law, human rights, and civil liberties topics. He is a Senior Research Fellow at the Department of War Studies, King’s College. He has lectured at the UK armed forces Joint Services Staff College on the law of armed conflict, and was an instructor on the Canadian Armed Forces Law of Armed Conflict Course – Land, Naval and Air Operations. He has trained Judges and lawyers on international law, rule of law and human rights topics in several jurisdictions including in Sri Lanka, Mexico, Rwanda, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Cambodia, Lebanon, Bosnia, Nigeria, Serbia, Kosovo, Romania, Croatia, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Italy and Germany.
He is often interviewed as an expert commentator including by the BBC, SKY News, Al Jazeera, RT News, and TRT World on topics such as the prosecution of UK soldiers serving abroad, arrest warrants for foreign leaders and universal jurisdiction, business responsibilities and compliance, border disputes, detentions abroad, and the developments in human rights cases around the world.
“Has a superior command of matters relating to international law and human rights. He has exceptional insight into the intersection of international law and politics and is always a pleasure to work with.” “Very well respected and very clever, he has a huge amount of experience in international tribunals.” “Absolutely passionate, he very quickly engages the trust of clients.”
Chambers and Partners 2020
Recommended as a leading silk in Public International Law and in International Crime and Extradition: “Extremely knowledgeable in this area and has a keen appreciation of the differences – procedural and substantive – among national legal systems.” “Very approachable with a razor sharp intellect.”
Legal 500 2020
“Extremely calm and personable, he gives off an air of confidence and certainty when giving advice. It is always very reassuring to have him involved in a case”.
Chambers and Partners 2019
Recommended as a leading silk in Public International Law: “An excellent QC, very experienced in the field of public international law”, as well as in International Crime and Extradition.
Legal 500 2019
“An exceptional barrister, highly esteemed for his wealth of knowledge” in representing international governments and political leaders and handling international criminal law matters before UK courts “who has long experience in international cases. A very good team player who provides invaluable support; an excellent practitioner who guides you through the process”.
Chambers and Partners 2018
Recommended as a leading silk in Public International Law: “Consistently professional, collegial and a pleasure to work with” and in International Crime and Extradition.
Legal 500 2017
“An exceptional international lawyer.” “He is extremely impressive, knowledgeable and responsive.” “He’s got clients on every continent,” and is “a force to be reckoned with.”
Chambers and Partners 2017
Recommended as a leading silk in Public International Law: “He has a great public international law practice and a top mind”.
Legal 500 2016
Recommended as a leading silk in international criminal law: “An exceptional practitioner”.
Legal 500 2016
Recommended in International Criminal Law for representing Governments and leaders and his expertise in the field: “Respected for his excellent advocacy skills and strong client care”, “He is extremely experienced and knows his way around international criminal law”, “He is a very personable practitioner who is very diligent and well liked by clients.”
Chambers and Partners 2016
Recommended as Leading Silk in Public International Law: “Very impressive and user-friendly.”
Legal 500 2015
Recommended in Public International Law and in International Criminal law: “An acclaimed new silk who regularly represents governments, political figures and military leaders.” “He has an outstanding intellect, works very, very hard and is rated very highly as an advocate. He’s seen as being a real force to be reckoned with.” “Amazing. He’s really on top of all the case law and procedure, and knows exactly what he’s doing.”
Chambers and Partners 2015
Recommended in Civil Liberties and Human Rights and in Public International Law: “A confident, and creative approach to the protection and promotion of international human rights.”
Legal 500 2014
Recommended in International Criminal Law: “He is praised for his knowledge of this complex area of law. He has great expertise, and has everything at his fingertips.”
Chambers and Partners 2014
Recommended in Public International Law: “the clear, eloquent and focused Rodney Dixon who is one of the best counsel who appears before the ICC”, and in Civil Liberties and Human Rights.
Legal 500: 2013, 2012 and 2011
Recommended in Public International Law: “recommended for his particularly strong expertise in international humanitarian and criminal law.”
Legal 500 2010
Attorney-General’s Panel of Civil Advocates (2006-2011) and appointed to ‘A’ Panel for Public International Law
Accredited Advocacy Trainer, Inner Temple – trained advocacy in the UK and abroad
Visiting Senior Research Fellow, Department of War Studies, King’s College London, 2012-2015
Honorary Lecturer, International Law, University of Utrecht, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13
Legal adviser (International law) and Counsel in the Office of the Prosecutor of the UN International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), 1995-1999
Transferred from ICTY and called to the Bar in 2000
Before working at the ICTY, qualified as a solicitor in South Africa
BA LLB, Rhodes University, South Africa
LLM (International Law and Human Rights, cum laude), Notre Dame University, USA
D.Phil candidate (International Law), Oxford University, Wolfson College
Association of Defence Counsel of the ICTY (ADC)
List of Counsel of the International Criminal Court (ICC)
List of Counsel for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL)
List of Counsel for the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL)
List of Counsel for the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC)
Member of the Executive Council of the ICC Bar Association (ICCBA) (2017-2020)
Disciplinary Committee of the ADC (2004-2005)
Member of South Eastern Circuit
Undertakes Public Access work
Acting as Counsel for the Government of Afghanistan in proceedings before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Afghanistan Situation in respect of alleged international crimes committed during the conflict.
Read moreActing for the East Turkestan Government in Exile and Uyghur victims in proceedings before the ICC in respect of the alleged genocide and crimes against humanity committed by Chinese authorities against Uyghurs in ICC States Parties and in East Turkestan/Xinjiang in China.
Instructed on behalf of Dr Dusko Knezevic, a leading figure in Montenegro, in the extradition request by the Government of Montenegro before UK courts.
Representing Durham University academic who was held in solitary confinement for over 6 months in the UAE. Various legal actions being taken to obtain redress and compensation.
Representing Hatice Cengiz, the fiancee of slain Washington Post journalist, Jamal Khashoggi. Legal actions for the murder have been taken in several jurisdictions, and various representations made in respect of the proposed Saudi takeover of Newcastle United Football club and other sporting events hosted by the Government of Saudi Arabia.
Representing high profile persons under UN sanctions in confidential proceedings before the UN Sanctions Committee to have the sanctions against them lifted both in respect of asset freezes and travel bans.
Acted in complaint proceedings before Ofcom on behalf of persons who claimed that they had been treated unfairly and unjustly and had their privacy infringed due to broadcasts in the UK by a foreign news channel. Substantial fines were imposed on the news channel for the broadcasts and civil proceedings are now underway.
Representing Princess Latifa before the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) which is considering her case. She has not been seen in public for over 2 years following a failed attempt to escape from her family in Dubai in March 2018 when she was captured off the Indian coast while fleeing from the UAE.
Read moreRepresenting suspects in proceedings before the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC). The KSC was established as part of the judicial system of Kosovo to conduct investigations and trials in respect of allegations stemming from the 2011 Council of Europe report which alleges serious violations of international law.
Read moreRepresenting a large group of refugees who have been forced to flee Syria into Jordan as a result of the conflict and are living in refugee camps there. An application to the ICC Prosecutor has been filed on their behalf to open an investigation into the crimes against humanity of unlawful deportation from Syria to Jordan and related offences.
Read moreServing as a Commissioner on the national Commission of Inquiry into post election violence in Zimbabwe following the August 2018 elections. Appointed by the President of Zimbabwe pursuant to the national Commissions of Inquiry Act.
Acting for companies in proceedings concerning allegations of corruption and bribery before the World Bank, Sanctions Board. Hearings to be held at the World Bank Headquarters in Washington DC.
Representing hundreds of persons displaced from their lands in Kericho County, Kenya, during the colonial period and thereafter. Hearings have been held before the National Land Commission in Kenya in order to seek reparations and compensation for those dispossessed.
Acting as international counsel for a leading journalist in Morocco, Mr Taoufik Bouachrine, who has been charged with human trafficking, rape and sexual assault. His trial has taken place before the criminal court in Casablanca.
Instructed to prepare legal opinion and report on the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia following the wave of arrests and detentions in September 2017. A copy of the report is here and interview about the report here.
The report is being submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva for consideration. Families of certain of those detained had asked for the report to be prepared and provided to UN bodies and Governments.
Representing persons on death row in Egypt in proceedings before the African Commission to have their death sentences set aside (Communication 670/17). The application concerns 16 persons sentenced to death by Egyptian courts. The African Commission has ordered provisional measures directing the Government of Egypt to suspend the death sentences pending the outcome of the proceedings.
Rodney Dixon QC is Counsel for the UK Government at the ICC in the Preliminary Examination for the Iraq Situation which concerns allegations of war crimes committed in Iraq.
Acting for three prominent Qatari nationals who were allegedly unlawfully detained and tortured in the UAE between 2013 and 2015 by UAE security officials before being released as a result of an agreement between the Governments of the UAE and Qatar. The Met Police have been requested to investigate the case under the universal jurisdiction provisions on torture of the Criminal Justice Act 1988.
Representing in international proceedings the former President of South Korea who has been impeached and is currently detained and on trial in Seoul on charges of corruption, bribery and abuse of power. Family, close associates and supporters have instructed Rodney Dixon QC to take all steps internationally to challenge President Park’s detention, particularly in light of her deteriorating health condition. Urgent proceedings have been launched before the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in Geneva and other UN bodies to protect the former President’s rights and safeguard her well-being.
Appointed to act as international legal adviser to the Transitional Government of National Unity of South Sudan on legal and judicial reform relating to the 2015 Peace Agreement following the civil war in South Sudan.
Representing Georgia (being led by Ben Emmerson QC) in case against Russia before the European Court of Human Rights. The case concerns the conflict that broke out between Georgia and Russia in August 2008 in South Ossetia. Georgia is proceeding against Russia in an inter-State action for violations of the European Convention on Human Rights committed against Georgian civilians during the conflict including in respect of unlawful killings from bombardments and attacks on towns and villages, and torture and ill-treatment of captured prisoners of war and civilian detainees.
Acting as international counsel on behalf of a British national, Hasnat Karim, who was arrested following the terrorist attack on a cafe in Dhaka on 1 July. Mr Karim remains in custody in Dhaka without having been charged with any offence.
Acting for plaintiffs in civil claims for wrongful death under the Torture Victim Protection Act (TVPA) and the Alien Torts Statute (ATS).
Rodney Dixon QC advised on matters of international law to the Advisory Council of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry examining the final stages of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka. Final report of the Commission was tabled in Parliament in October 2015.
Representing US and other plaintiffs in civil suit for damages under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act arising from an attack on a US ship on the high seas.
Acted in extended proceedings before the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights and United Nations brought on behalf of those sentenced to death in mass trials in Egypt in 2014. Made representations before the Commission at its seat in The Gambia. The death sentences were eventually set aside or are being reviewed.
Rodney Dixon QC is acting for the Government of the Union of the Comoros before the ICC in respect of the attack on the Gaza Flotilla on the High Seas in May 2010. Judicial review proceedings have been successfully brought against the decision of the ICC Prosecutor not to initiate an investigation into alleged war crimes.
Representing Dr Morsi, his Government and the Freedom and Justice Party of Egypt in several jurisdictions following the coup in Egypt in 2013 including before the UN, ICC, African Commission, and in judicial review proceedings in the UK concerning the immunity of state and military officials.
Karim Khan QC, Rodney Dixon QC and Dato’ Shyamala Alagendra represented TV station and journalist in trial at STL on allegations of witness interference. This is the first trial before an international court in which a corporate entity has faced charges. TV station and journalist has been acquitted of all counts.
Representing residents of Tivoli Gardens, who were victims of an attack and killings in Kingston, Jamaica in 2010, before the National Commission of Inquiry and in other international actions.
Submitted a ground-breaking communication to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights on behalf of Mishana Hosseinioun, which became one of the first cases which the African Commission submitted to the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Read moreAdvising the Government of Sudan in respect of border and territorial disputes that were referred to the United Nations and the African Union.
Acting on behalf of former Intelligence Chief of Libya for the late Colonel Gaddafi in proceedings before the ICC and in other jurisdictions.
Counsel for the Kenyan Government in the Kenya cases before the ICC, inter alia against the President and Deputy President of Kenya, including in admissibility proceedings on grounds of complementarity.
Acting on behalf of former PM of Kosovo on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes in protracted trial, appellate, and re-trial proceedings before the ICTY. Mr Haradinaj was acquitted of all charges at the first and second trials.
Defence Counsel for former investigator of Charles Taylor (ex-President of Liberia) on charges of bribery before the SCSL. Mr. Taylor was acquitted of all counts.
Acting for Home Office in case concerning the deprivation of UK citizenship and statelessness.
Representing the AG in judicial review of the AG’s refusal to grant permission to prosecute Tony Blair for alleged war crimes in Iraq.
Acting for the Ministry of Defence in judicial review proceedings concerning allegations of torture and inhuman treatment in detention facilities in Iraq.
Representing private security officer injured in Iraq in a civil claim in which jurisdiction to proceed in the UK before UK courts and the applicable law, were central issues.
Counsel for the Foreign Office in proceedings concerning a claim for damages arising from an alleged unlawful extradition of a British national from the US to Hong Kong.
Acting for OFSTED in Care Standards Tribunal inquiry into allegations of child abuse and child protection issues.
Counsel advising in respect of investment treaty matters arising from banking crisis in the UK and abroad.
Represented military commander of Bosnian Army before ICTY on allegations of command responsibility for the killings committed by foreign ‘mujahedin’ fighters in central Bosnia during the armed conflict in Bosnia. Mr. Kubura was acquitted of all murder counts.
Represented the Government of Mauritius in various cases before the Privy Council, including Tyack v The State of Mauritius concerning the application of UK sentencing guidelines in Mauritius.
10th January 2019
Leading text on law and procedure before all international criminal courts.
31st January 2015
Leading text on law and procedure before all international criminal courts.
30th January 2015
Authored chapters on ‘Crimes Against Humanity’ and ‘Protection of National Security Information’
30th November 2014
Expert participant in international and comparative study by King’s College Department of War Studies. Co-sponsored by the Economic and Social Research Council and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.
1st January 2011
Senior Expert Consultant for OSCE War Crimes Justice Project in the former Yugoslavia which produced publication and training manual on International Criminal Law and domestic prosecutions of war crimes.
8th September 2022
A group of elderly Kenyan citizens from Kericho county who were forcibly removed from their ancestral lands during the period of British colonial rule, and who suffered torture and mistreatment, have filed applications in respect of these violations of the European Convention on Human Rights at the Court in Strasbourg.
Read more22nd June 2022
Rodney Dixon QC will be speaking from the Hague tomorrow at 5:30pm UK time on cross-border international crimes.
Read more12th May 2022
Investigating Judges of the Specialised Judicial Unit for Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes of the Paris Tribunal have opened an investigation into the allegations of torture of Matthew and Ali while they were detained in the UAE, including in respect of General Ahmed Al Raisi, the Inspector General of the UAE who is currently serving as the President of Interpol. He has travelled to Lyon where the Headquarters of Interpol are located, thus permitting the Tribunal to exercise its jurisdiction. Rodney Dixon QC attended the hearing at the Tribunal in Paris yesterday during which the testimonies of his clients were heard. He acts for Matthew and Ali, with Aidan Ellis and Juliet Wells.
Read more21st April 2022
Ovalbek Turdakun and his family have managed to flee to the US from Kyrgyzstan. They arrived in Washington DC last week. Mr Turdakun was previously held in a detention camp facility in China for 10 months but managed to escape to Kyrgyzstan. Rodney Dixon QC, Anne Coulon, and Paul Erdunast acting on his behalf will submit his testimony to the ICC as part of their application to the Office of the Prosecutor to open an ICC investigation into the international crimes allegedly committed against Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples over which the ICC has jurisdiction.
Read more7th April 2022
The Istanbul Criminal Court has today granted the Prosecutor’s request to suspend and transfer the criminal proceedings against 26 accused for the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, to the authorities of Saudi Arabia. His widow, Hatice Cengiz represented by Rodney Dixon QC, who is the main complainant in the case opposed the application, and she has called on the Turkish authorities to continue and conclude the criminal case under the jurisdiction of the Turkish courts.
Read more23rd November 2021
Rodney Dixon QC acting on behalf of Matthew Hedges and Ali Issa Ahmad, who were arbitrarily detained and tortured in the UAE, has filed criminal complaints in Sweden, Norway, France, and Turkey where it is expected that one of the key suspects will travel. He is General Ahmed Naser Al Raisi who was the Inspector General in the UAE Ministry of Interior at the time of the detentions. He is currently running to be the next President of Interpol.
Read more9th November 2021
The widow of murdered Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi has given evidence about his killing to a Tribunal in The Hague set up by the Free Press Unlimited (FPU), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) to bring attention to journalists who have been targeted while undertaking their work. The Tribunal will investigate this killing amongst others, and make public findings in due course. The criminal case concerning Mr Khashoggi’s murder continues before the criminal court in Istanbul and Ms Cengiz’s civil case is ongoing in the US. Rodney Dixon QC is acting as Ms Cengiz’s counsel.
17th August 2021
Following the submission of a formal complaint on behalf of the victims by Rodney Dixon QC, Aidan Ellis and Anne Coulon (instructed by JK Bosek & Associates, Nairobi, and the Governor of Kericho and Bomet Counties), six UN Special Rapporteurs sent a formal communication to the UK Government to remind the UK of its obligation to ensure justice, truth, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence in relation to human rights violations committed in Kenya during the colonial era. The Special Rapporteurs expressed serious concern about the lack of accountability or effective remedies for the victims, including the lack of reparations.
Read more29th June 2021
Rodney Dixon QC and Émilie Pottle have been instructed to represent Dr Dusko Knezevic in his extradition proceedings in the UK. The request for extradition made by Montenegro is among the first to be considered by UK courts and raises complex and serious issues regarding the independence of the courts and prosecuting authorities there.
Read more10th June 2021
Rodney Dixon QC with Anne Coulon and Paul Erdunast acting for the Government of East Turkistan in Exile and Uyghur victims have filed new evidence with the ICC following an investigation of international crimes committed against Uyghurs by Chinese officials. The submission requests the ICC Prosecutor to open a full investigation under the Rome Statute without delay.
Read more25th May 2021
Dr Mahmoud Abdul Rahman Al-Jaidah and Mr Hamad Mohammed Ali Al-Hammadi have today sent formal letters of claim to Abu Dhabi Media Company PJSC. They are claiming damages in consequence of the broadcast of their private information on the Abu Dhabi Channel.
Read more12th May 2021
H.E. Minister Mohammad Atmar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan led a high level delegation including the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General in a crucial meeting with the ICC Prosecutor at the seat of the Court in The Hague. The purpose of the meeting was to provide briefings and consider the Government’s application to defer the ICC investigation in the Afghanistan Situation to the national authorities. The decision on this matter is pending. The Government and its counsel were able to provide information about the national proceedings and address legal issues arising in the deferral proceedings.
Read more11th May 2021
Matthew Hedges was arrested and detained three years ago while undertaking academic research for his PhD in the UAE. He spent 6 months in detention during which time he was tortured and forced to ‘confess’ to being a spy for the UK Government. He was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the UAE courts, but released after his wife launched a public campaign to have him freed.
Read more17th February 2021
The UN and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights have received video evidence of Princess Latifa being held captive at a secret location in Dubai, and urged to take immediate action to intervene to obtain her release from the Dubai authorities. Rodney Dixon QC is representing Princess Latifa in proceedings before the UN to secure her safe release from detention, and has provided evidence to the UN on her behalf concerning her captivity.
Read more11th November 2020
Rodney Dixon QC acting on behalf of a detainee who had his confession obtained under torture, broadcast on TV as though it were a voluntary interview, has succeeded in his complaint to Ofcom.
Read more28th October 2020
Rodney Dixon QC has commented on the international law and human rights implications of the conflict that has broken out between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas which lie within the internationally recognised borders of Azerbaijan.
Read more21st October 2020
Hatice Cengiz has filed a civil suit in the District Court for the District of Columbia against Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia and over 20 other co-conspirators for the murder of her fiancé, Washington Post journalist, Jamal Khashoggi. US law firms, Jenner & Block LLP and Gill Law Firm submitted the case yesterday requesting that compensatory damages are awarded on the basis of the Crown Prince’s involvement in ordering the extrajudicial killing and of the contributions of his co-conspirators.
Read more2nd October 2020
Today is the second anniversary of the murder of the Washington Post journalist who was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Rodney Dixon QC acting on behalf of Hatice Cengiz, the fiancé of Jamal Khashoggi, will speak with Ms Cengiz and parliamentarians and experts at the European Parliament to mark the anniversary and address the legal steps that should be taken. At the same time Academy Award winning filmmaker, Bryan Fogel, will release his documentary today about the murder, ‘The Dissident’ at the Zürich Film Festival. Ms Cengiz will speak at the premiere. The trailer is here:
Read more23rd September 2020
Rodney Dixon and Rhys Davies have submitted an urgent communication to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous people, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons.
Read more12th August 2020
The Complaint submitted to the ICC Prosecutor on behalf of the East Turkestan Government in exile concerning the alleged genocide and crimes against humanity committed against the Uyghur and other Turkic peoples of East Turkestan, has been extensively reported on and widely supported since it was filed last month.
Read more4th August 2020
The proposed takeover bid of Newcastle United by a Saudi led consortium has been called off. Hatice Cengiz the fiancee of slain Washington Post journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, has been engaging the Premier League to prevent the deal from going ahead.
Read more8th July 2020
Rodney Dixon QC representing the East Turkistan Government in Exile, assisted by Anne Coulon and Paul Erdunast, have filed a Complaint at the ICC under the provisions of the ICC Statute requesting the Prosecutor to open an investigation into allegations of genocide and crimes against humanity being committed against the Uyghur and other Turkic peoples in China.
Read more3rd July 2020
Rodney Dixon QC is representing Hatice Cengiz, the fiancée of slain Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, at the start of the criminal trial in Istanbul of alleged perpetrators. Mr Khashoggi was murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018.
Read more16th June 2020
Rodney Dixon QC representing the Government of Afghanistan with Aidan Ellis and Anne Coulon have filed a request for the deferral of the ICC investigation of international crimes arising from the protracted conflict in Afghanistan, to the national Afghan judicial system.
Read more29th April 2020
Rodney Dixon QC representing Hatice Cengiz, the fiancee of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018, has sent a request on her behalf to the Board of the Premier League to halt the proposed acquisition of Newcastle United Football Club by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) which is controlled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Read more4th December 2019
Rodney Dixon QC is appearing on behalf of the Government of Afghanistan with Aidan Ellis and Anne Coulon in an appeal hearing this week at the ICC in The Hague.
Read more30th September 2019
Rodney Dixon QC representing Princess Latifa has appeared before the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) in Geneva to submit updated evidence and information about her disappearance and detention in the UAE.
Read more16th September 2019
On 12th September 2019, Rodney Dixon QC and Juliet Wells addressed an event at the 42nd Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, hosted by the Death Penalty Project. The event concerned the illegal and excessive use of capital punishment by the Saudi government, following Baroness Helena Kennedy QC’s July 2019 report into recent executions in Saudi Arabia. The report identified systematic and widespread human rights abuses by the Saudi regime in imposing the death penalty on human rights defenders, protestors, critics of the government, and children, following grossly unfair investigative and trial processes.
Read more13th September 2019
Rodney Dixon QC and Aidan Ellis acting for over 115000 victims (from Kericho County) of human rights violations during the period of British colonial rule, have filed a complaint with supporting evidence to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion of Truth, Justice, Reparation and Guarantees of Non-recurrence and to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights under their respective mandates.
Read more6th September 2019
Following hearings before the Appeals Chamber, it has ordered the ICC Prosecutor to address the errors of law and fact in her decision not to proceed with an investigation into the war crimes allegedly committed during the raid on the Gaza Flotilla on the high seas in May 2010, as found by the Pre-Trial Chamber below.
Read more15th July 2019
On 8 July 2019, Rodney Dixon QC and Juliet Wells submitted a complaint to FIFA on behalf of their client, Ali Issa Ahmad. Mr Ahmad is a British national who was assaulted and racially abused by UAE state security officials in January 2019, whilst attending the AFC Asian Cup football tournament as a fan of the Qatar national team. He was ultimately detained for a period of three weeks, during which time he was accused of being a Qatari spy and tortured.
Read more25th June 2019
Rodney Dixon QC and Juliet Wells represented their clients Yumna Desai and Huda Mohammad at an event at the 41st Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva, at the invitation of human rights NGO No Peace Without Justice and the Government of Canada. Ms Desai and Ms Mohammad were arbitrarily detained by the Saudi Arabian authorities and held in conditions amounting to torture for three years and one year respectively.
On 25 June 2019, Rodney and Juliet also submitted a complaint on their clients’ behalf to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Protection of Fundamental Rights Whilst Combatting Terrorism, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers.
Read more20th May 2019
Rodney Dixon QC, counsel for jailed Moroccan journalist Toufik Bouachrine, assisted by Rhys Davies, have submitted an urgent request to Dr. Agnes Callamard, the UN Special Rapporteur investigating the killing of Jamal Khashoggi to obtain and examine Mr. Bouachrine’s mobile phone.
Read more3rd May 2019
Rodney Dixon QC appeared this week before the ICC Appeals Chamber on behalf of the Government of the Comoros. The ICC Prosecutor had appealed against the Pre-Trial Chamber’s ruling in judicial review proceedings in favour of the Comoros that the Prosecutor had erred in her decision not to open an investigation into the case referred to the ICC by the Comoros.
Read more19th March 2019
Leading international justice consultancy, MH Group, is launching an initiative for the ICC Prosecutor to open an investigation into those most responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against Palestinian civilians in Gaza, and in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. MH Group has instructed Rodney Dixon QC to prepare legal submissions to the ICC Prosecutor and to act on its behalf as legal counsel.
Read more14th March 2019
Rodney Dixon QC and Aidan Ellis have been representing the Kipsigis and Talai peoples of Kericho and Bomet County, Kenya in proceedings before the Kenyan National Land Commission. The Commission has now released its findings. It determined that the Kipsigis and Talai peoples had been the victims of historical land injustices during the colonial period in Kenya and thereafter. The Commission made far reaching recommendations to the British Government, Kenyan Government and the multi-national tea companies that operate in the counties.
Read more7th March 2019
Rodney Dixon QC is making an application to the ICC Prosecutor to open an investigation into crimes against humanity of unlawful deportation from Syria to Jordan. The case is being brought on behalf of 28 victims who have been forced to flee over the border into Jordan and are living in refugee camps.
Read more18th January 2019
Rodney Dixon QC is the keynote speaker at Kingsley Napley International Criminal Law Conference today. Please see click here for further information.
22nd November 2018
Matthew Hedges, a British PhD student who has been sentenced to life in prison in the UAE for espionage.
Read more19th November 2018
Rodney Dixon QC acted for the Government of the Comoros before the ICC in a judicial review application of the Prosecutor’s decision not to open an investigation into the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) operation against the Mavi Marmara on the high seas in the Mediterranean in May 2010 when the Gaza Flotilla was intercepted.
Read more14th November 2018
The Zimbabwe Commission of Inquiry into the post-election violence of 1 August 2018 continues its hearings this week in Harare. The Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces as well as the Chief of Police and the Head of the Electoral Commission are being heard before the Commission.
Read more12th October 2018
Rodney Dixon QC assisted by Aidan Ellis have appeared before the Kenya National Land Commission in hearings held this week in Kericho County. Submissions were made on behalf of over 100,000 residents of the county who have submitted land claims to the Commission for restitution and compensation arising from the colonial period and following independence in Kenya.
Read more9th October 2018
Rodney Dixon QC was a speaker at an event held at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington DC on the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia.
Read more20th September 2018
Rodney Dixon QC was sworn in yesterday as a Commissioner to sit on the Commission of Inquiry established by the President of Zimbabwe under the Commissions of Inquiry Act to inquire into the post election violence that occurred on 1 August 2018 following the recent elections in Zimbabwe.
Read more25th July 2018
Emily Wilsdon chaired a seminar at the House of Commons with leading experts and lawyers to consider the effect on the religious rights and freedoms of Qataris, in the context of the blockade of Qatar and access to the Hajj.
Read more2nd July 2018
Rodney Dixon QC participated in a high level expert panel in Washington DC on war crimes that have been committed in the 3 year war in Yemen and the potential mechanisms to facilitate accountability and victim reparations.
Read more12th June 2018
Rodney Dixon QC, Myles Grandison and Aidan Ellis will speak at a panel discussion to be held in Parliament and hosted by Andy Slaughter MP on the detention and treatment of opponents and human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia. The event will focus on available legal remedies.
Read more24th May 2018
Ben Emmerson QC and Rodney Dixon QC appeared on behalf of the Government of Georgia at the hearing in Strasbourg in which the final submissions were presented on Georgia’s application. Georgia alleges widespread and systematic violations of the European Convention on Human Rights arising from the conflict in August 2008 covering two regions in Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Read more13th April 2018
Rodney Dixon QC acts for the parents of a 19 year old US national, Furkan Dogan, who was shot and killed on board the Mavi Marmara ship that was sailing to Gaza in May 2010 to deliver humanitarian aid. It was intercepted in international waters by the Israeli Defence Force, who killed 10 passengers including Furkan and injured over 50 persons.
Read more9th April 2018
Rodney Dixon QC has been appointed as international counsel for a leading journalist in Morocco, Mr Taoufik Bouachrine, who has been charged with human trafficking, rape and sexual assault.
Read more1st February 2018
Rodney Dixon QC, assisted by Aidan Ellis, with Lord Ken Macdonald QC have published their report and legal opinion on the mass arrests and detentions that occurred last September in Saudi Arabia. The full report can be found here.
Read more21st September 2017
Rodney Dixon QC has addressed an event at the UN General Assembly in New York hosted by the Qatari Ambassador to the UN and the Attorney General of Qatar on the current air, land and sea blockade of Qatar imposed by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt.
Read more14th September 2017
Rodney Dixon QC is representing three prominent Qatari nationals who were unlawfully detained and tortured in the UAE between 2013 and 2015 by UAE security officials.
Read more10th August 2017
Rodney Dixon QC has been instructed as international counsel for the impeached President Park Geun-hye of South Korea, currently on trial in Seoul on eighteen charges of corruption, bribery and abuse of power.
Read more6th July 2017
Andrew Cayley CMG QC and Rodney Dixon QC have been in Lagos, Nigeria meeting with Nigerian military prosecutors and investigators in connection with national investigations into terrorism and allegations of war crimes arising from the conflict with Boko Haram in Nigeria. The meetings were organised under the auspices of the Wayamo Foundation, and addressed key aspects of international humanitarian and criminal law and best practices for the investigation and prosecution of international crimes.
Read more4th July 2017
Chambers congratulates Karim Khan QC on his election as the President of the International Criminal Court Bar Association.
Read more18th April 2017
The event has been organised by Dr Victor Kattan, Senior Research Fellow at NUS.
More information can be found here.
22nd November 2016
Andrew, Rodney and Emily will participate in a week of discussions with the Mexican Armed Forces on International Humanitarian Law and International Criminal Law, an event which has been organised by Foro de Justicia International AC and its chief executive Professor Dr. Mónica Rocha-Herrera.
29th July 2016
Rodney Dixon QC representing Mr Hasnat Karim and his family has filed an urgent complaint with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention seeking the immediate release of Mr. Karim from detention in Bangladesh.
Read more11th July 2016
Rodney Dixon QC will examine two intra-Asian arbitration disputes, considering their similarities and differences, the realities of enforcement, and what these cases portend for the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s role in the resolution of disputes relating to the Asian region; and ask whether Asian courts and centres for arbitration too should have a greater place in such dispute settlement.
Read more
20th June 2016
Rodney Dixon QC with Aidan Ellis have been acting for Dr Mishana Hosseinioun who petitioned the African Commission and Court on behalf of Mr. Gaddafi.
Read more8th June 2016
Rodney Dixon QC being led by Ben Emmerson QC is appearing on behalf of the Government of Georgia in hearings before the Grand Chamber of the ECtHR in Strasbourg in the case being brought against the Russian Federation.
Read more4th May 2016
Rodney Dixon QC has at the invitation of the Institute for Judicial and Legal Studies, conducted workshops on the application of international law in domestic jurisdictions for the Judges of the Supreme Court and practitioners in Mauritius.
Read more8th March 2016
Today the Appeals Panel of the Special Tribunal of Lebanon (Hague) dismissed 22 prosecution grounds of appeal in upholding the acquittal of Al Jadeed television station (Beirut) on charges of contempt.
Read more12th January 2016
Passengers on a US ship file civil suit against State of Israel in the US District Court for the District of Columbia for damages sustained during attack on the high seas.
5th November 2015
UK police are investigating allegations of torture and crimes against humanity committed by Egyptian officials who are visiting London.
22nd October 2015
Former Israeli PM sued for damages in US Federal Court in California for killing of US national on the high seas.
28th July 2015
Abdullah Al-Senussi has been sentenced to death by a Libyan court while his international lawyers continue to call for him to be tried before the ICC in The Hague
25th July 2015
ICC Prosecutor ordered by the Pre-Trial Chamber to reconsider her decision not to open an investigation following judicial review application by the Government of the Comoros.
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