Tuesday, March 21, 2023
British Herald
Advertisement
  • Home
  • World
    • UK
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • Oceania
    • USA
    • Middle East
    • Latin America
  • Politics
  • Business
    • ECONOMY
    • Financial Markets
    • Companies
  • Sport
  • Fintech
  • Videos
  • Coffee Table Book
  • BH Magazine
  • More
    • Health
    • Entertainment
    • Science & Technology
    • Climate & Environment
    • Sustainability
    • Food and Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture and Lifestyle
    • Articles
    • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
British Herald
  • Home
  • World
    • UK
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • Oceania
    • USA
    • Middle East
    • Latin America
  • Politics
  • Business
    • ECONOMY
    • Financial Markets
    • Companies
  • Sport
  • Fintech
  • Videos
  • Coffee Table Book
  • BH Magazine
  • More
    • Health
    • Entertainment
    • Science & Technology
    • Climate & Environment
    • Sustainability
    • Food and Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture and Lifestyle
    • Articles
    • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
British Herald
Home World Middle East

UAE jails Briton for life for spying, UK assails ‘unacceptable’ ruling

Editorial Bureau by Editorial Bureau
November 22, 2018
0
UAE jails Briton for life for spying, UK assails ‘unacceptable’ ruling
74
SHARES
1.2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

ABU DHABI (Reuters) – A UAE court sentenced a British academic to life in prison on charges of spying for the British government on Wednesday, in a move Britain said would have serious diplomatic consequences for relations between the old allies.

You might also like

Former Israeli premier urges world leaders to shun Netanyahu

6 Palestinians killed during Israel military raid in Westbank

Qatar’s top diplomat is sworn in as new prime minister

The United Arab Emirates public prosecutor said the sentence was handed down on Matthew Hedges “after the accused confessed before the court to the charges brought against him”, but that Hedges could appeal.

The prosecutor’s statement did not specify the charges. His family and state-run UAE newspaper The National, citing a separate court statement, said Hedges was convicted of spying.

The hearing lasted less than five minutes and Hedge’s lawyer was not present, his family said.

“We are of course deeply disappointed and concerned at today’s verdict,” May told parliament. She and Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt said they were raising the case at the highest levels of the UAE government.

“We have seen no evidence to back up charges against him … UAE claim to be friend & ally of the UK so there will be serious diplomatic consequences. Unacceptable,” Hunt said in a tweet.

“Today’s verdict … runs contrary to earlier assurances,” Hunt said, calling the move extremely worrying.

The statement by UAE Attorney General Hamad al-Shamsi described the trial as “fair, transparent and just”.

Hedges, a 31-year-old doctoral student at Durham University, has been held in the UAE since May 5, when he was arrested at Dubai International Airport after a two-week research visit.

RESEARCH NOTES

The evidence presented against him consisted of notes from his dissertation research, his family said.

“I am in complete shock and I don’t know what to do. Matthew is innocent,” said Hedges’ wife, Daniela Tejada, who was present in the Abu Dhabi courtroom and said he was shaking when he heard the verdict.

A Reuters journalist was barred from entering the hearing, which was closed to the public.

A life sentence for a non-Emirati entails a maximum of 25 years’ jail followed by deportation, according to The National.

The court ruled that his devices and research would be confiscated, the newspaper reported, adding that Hedges could appeal the ruling within 30 days. Hedges was released on bail in late October, but had been held in solitary confinement for five months before that, his family said.

He was made to sign a confession statement in Arabic that he did not understand and experienced deterioration in both his physical and mental health during his detention, they added.

The National reported that he was arrested after an Emirati man told police he had been asking for sensitive information and confessed to the charges during questioning.

According to Durham University’s website, Hedges is a doctoral student in the School of Government and International Affairs whose research interests include civil-military relations, political economy and tribalism.

More than 120 academics from around the world have issued a petition urging UAE authorities to release him.

The UAE is a tourism and trade hub, but tolerates little public criticism of its ruling families or policies.

(Reporting by Aziz El Yaakoubi, Katie Paul and Maha El Dahan; Additional reporting by Hesham Hajali in Cairo; editing by John Stonestreet, William Maclean)

Share30Tweet19
Editorial Bureau

Editorial Bureau

Recommended For You

Former Israeli premier urges world leaders to shun Netanyahu

March 17, 2023
Netanyahu

On Thursday, Israel's former prime minister urged global leaders to avoid the country's current leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, as he moves forward with a plan to reform the justice...

Read more

6 Palestinians killed during Israel military raid in Westbank

March 8, 2023
Palestinians inspect the site of a damaged building following an Israeli forces raid

The Israeli army raided a home in a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, triggering a battle that killed at least six Palestinians and wounded...

Read more

Qatar’s top diplomat is sworn in as new prime minister

March 7, 2023
Qatar’s ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, appoints the holders of top offices, usually from members of the ruling family.

Qatar’s top diplomat was sworn in as the country’s prime minister on Tuesday, replacing another member of the ruling family who had held the post since 2020, state...

Read more

Netanyahu denounces protesters after salon siege of his wife

March 2, 2023
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara gesture

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies on Thursday denounced protesters as “anarchists” after they massed outside a Tel Aviv salon where his wife was getting her hair...

Read more

Uranium particles enriched to 83.7% found in Iran: UN Report

March 1, 2023
Uranium particles enriched to 83.7% found in Iran

Inspectors from the United Nations nuclear watchdog found uranium particles enriched up to 83.7% in Iran’s underground Fordo nuclear site, a report by The Associated Press said Tuesday....

Read more
No Result
View All Result
Covid - 19 Virus

COVID-19 cases in Russia increased by 9,373 – reports

March 21, 2023
Markets rebound ahead of Federal reserve decision

Markets rebound ahead of Federal reserve decision on hike interest rate

March 21, 2023
Kylian Mbappé is the new captain of the French national team

Mbappe to be named new France Captain after Hugo Lloris step down

March 21, 2023

Tags

amazon australia boris johnson brexit britain British Herald CHINA Coronavirus coronavirus cases coronavirus outbreak COVID-19 COVID-19 Vaccine daily roundup Donald Trump Dubai expo 2020 england European Union facebook France germany Hong Kong ICC Men's T20 india iran israel italy japan joe biden lockdown London new zealand north korea Rishi Sunak russia south korea spain T20 T20 World Cup taiwan thailand Trump turkey UK Ukraine usa
British Herald

Top News in World: Read Latest News on Sports, Business, Entertainment, Blogs and Opinions from leading columnists.

CATEGORIES

  • Africa
  • Articles
  • Asia
  • Brand Feature
  • Business
  • Climate & Environment
  • Companies
  • Crypto
  • Culture and Lifestyle
  • Daily Roundup
  • Economics
  • ECONOMY
  • edel
  • Entertainment
  • Europe
  • Fashion
  • Finance
  • Financial Markets
  • Fintech
  • Health
  • IN UK 01
  • IN UK 02
  • Investing
  • Latin America
  • Market
  • Middle East
  • nsp
  • Oceania
  • Opinion
  • Pharma/BioTech
  • Politics
  • Reviews
  • Science & Technology
  • Sport
  • Sustainability
  • Tech
  • Technology
  • Travel
  • UK
  • Uncategorized
  • USA
  • Videos
  • World

BROWSE BY TAGS

amazon australia boris johnson brexit britain British Herald CHINA Coronavirus coronavirus cases coronavirus outbreak COVID-19 COVID-19 Vaccine daily roundup Donald Trump Dubai expo 2020 england European Union facebook France germany Hong Kong ICC Men's T20 india iran israel italy japan joe biden lockdown London new zealand north korea Rishi Sunak russia south korea spain T20 T20 World Cup taiwan thailand Trump turkey UK Ukraine usa

Herald Media Network Limited (UK). 2023. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • World
    • UK
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • Oceania
    • USA
    • Middle East
    • Latin America
  • Politics
  • Business
    • ECONOMY
    • Financial Markets
    • Companies
  • Sport
  • Fintech
  • Videos
  • Coffee Table Book
  • BH Magazine
  • More
    • Health
    • Entertainment
    • Science & Technology
    • Climate & Environment
    • Sustainability
    • Food and Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture and Lifestyle
    • Articles
    • Opinion

Herald Media Network Limited (UK). 2023. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?