President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates has pardoned 57 Bangladeshi citizens who were jailed for protesting against their government. The Bangladeshis were convicted by a federal court for joining protests in the UAE that mirrored demonstrations in their home country against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Three individuals received life sentences and 53 were sentenced to 10 years in prison, while one person received an 11-year sentence for participating in the protests. Human Rights Watch criticized the convictions as arbitrary and based on peaceful demonstrations. The Bangladeshi nationals will now be released and deported back to their home country.
The decision to pardon the protesters comes shortly after President Sheikh Mohamed spoke with Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus, who took power after Hasina was ousted from office amidst protests in Bangladesh. The unrest in Bangladesh began with student-led protests against civil service job quotas and evolved into mass demonstrations demanding the resignation of Hasina.
Bangladeshis make up a significant part of the expatriate population in the UAE, with many working in low-wage jobs and sending money back home to support their families. The UAE has strict laws against dissent, with restrictions on freedom of expression and prohibitions against criticizing rulers or jeopardizing international relations. The country’s legal system also criminalizes actions that may harm relationships with other countries.
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