In a significant development, the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has pardoned 57 Bangladeshi citizens who were convicted and sentenced to lengthy prison terms for staging a rare protest in the Gulf country. The protest, which occurred in July, was directed against the then-prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, and her government, amidst widespread unrest in Bangladesh.
The UAE state media, WAM, reported on Tuesday that the president’s decision cancels the sentences of those convicted, and they will be deported from the UAE. The Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal had sentenced the 57 Bangladeshi citizens in an expedited trial. Three were sentenced to life in prison, while 53 were sentenced to 10 years in prison. Additionally, one Bangladeshi citizen, who entered the UAE illegally and participated in the protest, was sentenced to 11 years. The Public Prosecution had accused the Bangladeshi nationals of “crimes of gathering in a public place and protesting against their home government with the intent to incite unrest”.
This pardon comes less than a week after UAE state media reported that President Sheikh Mohamed congratulated Muhammad Yunus on becoming Bangladesh’s interim leader. The former prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, was forced to quit and flee the country following violent protests.
Bangladeshi nationals represent one of the largest communities in the UAE, a country with a population of around 10 million people, where the majority of residents are foreigners. Emiratis make up approximately 10% of the population. Many Bangladeshi citizens in the UAE work low-paid blue-collar jobs and send remittances home to support their families.
The UAE’s hereditary rulers have a strict approach to dissent, with freedom of expression being limited. Political parties and labor unions are outlawed, and protests are rare. This makes the recent protest by Bangladeshi citizens in the UAE an unusual occurrence, highlighting the deep discontent felt by some members of the Bangladeshi community within the country.
