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* '''UMINASA''' was a newspaper and magazine publishing company. Among its periodicals were newspapers such as ''La Razón'' and ''El Hincha'' and magazines including ''La Onda'' and ''La Otra''.
== UN Decision ==
== Political persecution by the Ecuadorian government ==
{{Main|Filanbanco#Crisis}}
During the [[1998–99 Ecuador financial crisis|1998-1999 economic crisis]], over 20 banks in Ecuador became insolvent. The government, however, focused all its blame for the crisis on the Isaias brothers and Filanbanco, which had close political ties to the opposition party.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Dangerous Markets: Managing in Financial Crises|last=Barton|first=Dominic|last2=Newell|first2=Roberto|last3=Wilson|first3=Gregory|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|year=2002|isbn=9780471429739}}</ref>
The UN in an opinion explained that there was a violation of Human Rights by arbitrarily seizing assets from the Isaías Group.9 The UN opinion was based on the following main points: “That the issuance of Constituent Mandate No. 13, that expressly prohibited the filing of a constitutional or other special amparo action against the resolution of the AGD and included the instruction to dismiss, without prejudice to the criminal responsibility that may arise, the judges who invoke in knowledge of this type of actions, violated the right of the authors under article 14 (1) of the pact, to a process with due guarantees in the determination of their rights or obligations of a civil nature ”(# 7.4 of the Judgment).
At the end of the financial crisis, the Ecuadorian government assumed control of Filanbanco, which it eventually closed down in 2001.<ref name=":03"/> The bank crisis (“Crisis Bancaria”) started after the government of Ecuador took over and became the sole owner of Filanbanco. None of the Isaias brothers had any control over bank operation after that date.<ref name=":03"/>
The United Nations Committee "finds that the State party violated the authors' right under Article 14 (1) to a due process in determining their civil rights or obligations" (# 8 of the Opinion) .
The Isaias brothers were victims of political persecution instigated by a corrupt government under President Correa. The government began by blaming the Isaiais brothers for money that the bank lost ''while under government control''. Within a few years, the Ecuadorian Attorney General charged the brothers with "bank embezzlement" which was not a crime in Ecuador (although the government quietly added it to the criminal statues after filing the charges). Even the Chief Prosecutor of Ecuador declared that no bank embezzlement had taken place, but the government continued pursuing the charges nevertheless.<ref name=":03"/>
=== Move to the U.S. ===
Facing unfair allegations, the brothers moved to Miami, Florida, where they continued running other businesses. They own a number of properties and are partners and investors in MIA TV and other media channels in New York, Orlando, and Tampa Bay.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/politica/3/senador-vinculado-con-los-isaias|title=Senador vinculado con los Isaias|date=2014-01-25|website=El Telégrafo - Noticias del Ecuador y del mundo|language=es-es|access-date=2019-07-22}}</ref>
Ecuador even attempted to extradite the two men. In March 2019, Judge Kathleen Williams of the Federal Circuit of Florida denied deportation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/2019/03/08/nota/7223507/niegan-deportacion-hermanos-roberto-william-isaias-dice-su-abogado|title=Niegan deportación de los hermanos Roberto y William Isaias, según su abogado|date=2019-03-08|website=El Universo|language=es|access-date=2019-07-22}}</ref> The government also tried to sue the two men for damages in a U.S. court, but the court denied the government's claim.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elcomercio.com/app_public.php/actualidad/corte-eeuu-fallo-ecuador-hermanosisaias.html|title=Corte de EE.UU. falla a favor del Ecuador en un juicio contra los hermanos Isaias|website=El Comercio|access-date=2019-07-22}}</ref>
=== United Nations ruling ===
In 2016, the [[United Nations Human Rights Committee|UN Human Rights Committee]] ruled that "[[Constituent Mandate 13]]", a measure quickly passed by the Ecuadorian legislature to approve seizure of The Isaias Group's assets, violated the right to due process of the Isaiah brothers, protected by Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, of which Ecuador is a subscriber.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/fallo-onu-incautacion-agd-isaias.html|title=Fallo de Comité de ONU da un giro a la incautación de ex AGD|website=El Comercio|access-date=2019-07-22}}</ref>
In 2016, the United Nations Human Rights Committee (OHCHR) ruled that former Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa violated the civil rights of the Isaias brothers. OHCHR ordered Ecuador to fully restore the seized properties to the Isaias brothers.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-united-nations-human-rights-committee-finds-ecuador-government-guilty-of-violating-isaias-brothers-civil-rights-300286167.html|title=The United Nations Human Rights Committee Finds Ecuador Government Guilty of Violating Isaias Brothers' Civil Rights|date=2016-06-17|website=www.prnewswire.com|language=en|access-date=2019-07-22}}</ref>
The ruling "brings to light the depth of Correa’s corruption and abuse of power." After seizing their businesses, Correa even went so far as to pass an amendment to the country’s constitution openly directed at the Isaias men. The amendment (Mandate No. 13) made it expressly illegal for the brothers to file legal actions. It also said that any judge who even heard such a case would be dismissed. In its ruling, OHCHR ruled that Mandate No. 13 violated Isaias’ rights.<ref name=":1" />
<ref name=":11">{{Cite web|url=https://www.econotimes.com/ECUADOR-VIOLATED-THE-HUMAN-RIGHTS-OF-ROBERTO-AND-WILLAM-ISAIAS-AND-THE-UNITED-NATIONS-ORDERS-FULL-REPARATION-1608066|title=ECUADOR VIOLATED THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF ROBERTO AND WILLIAM ISAIAS AND THE UNITED NATIONS ORDERS "FULL REPARATION"' Civil Rights|date=2021-05-07|website=www.econotimes.com|language=en|access-date=2021-05-07}}</ref>
===The National Court of Justice declares innocent brothers Roberto and William Isaías===
Judges Daniella Camacho, Luis Rivera and Marco Ruiz signed the review sentence.
The National Court of Justice (CNJ) restored the "constitutional state of innocence" of the brothers Roberto and William Isaías Dassum. In addition, it pointed out that the existence of the crime of embezzlement was not proven.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web|url=https://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/actualidad/44/corte-declara-inocentes-a-los-hermanos-roberto-y-william-isaias|title='Court declares innocent brothers Roberto and William Isaías'|date=2021-05-07|website=www.eltelegrafo.com.ec|language=es|access-date=2021-05-20}}</ref>
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