Fifty-seven Bangladeshi nationals who were sentenced to long prison terms in the United Arab Emirates for protesting against the government in their home country have been pardoned by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The decision to cancel their sentences was announced on Tuesday, and the individuals will be released and deported back to Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi expatriates were accused of participating in protests against their government that mirrored demonstrations in their home country. They were convicted by a UAE court in July of gathering and inciting riots, with three receiving life sentences and 53 sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Human Rights Watch criticized the decision, stating that the individuals were arbitrarily detained, convicted, and sentenced based on their participation in peaceful protests. The move by Sheikh Mohamed to pardon the prisoners came after a conversation with Bangladesh’s new interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, who took over after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power amid protests in Bangladesh.
Bangladeshis form a large expatriate group in the UAE, with many working in low-paid blue-collar jobs to support their families back home. The UAE has strict laws regarding freedom of expression and dissent, prohibiting criticism of rulers and speech that could incite unrest. The penal code also criminalizes offending foreign states or jeopardizing relations with them.
The unrest in Bangladesh that led to the protests in the UAE began with student-led demonstrations against civil service job quotas and escalated into calls for Hasina to resign. The Bangladeshi expatriates are now expected to return home soon, following the presidential pardon.
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