57 Bangladeshi Nationals Pardoned by UAE President for Protesting
The president of the United Arab Emirates has granted clemency to 57 Bangladeshi citizens who were imprisoned for demonstrating against the government in their home country. The decision, announced by President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, nullifies the sentences of the individuals, who will now be released and deported back to Bangladesh.
The Bangladeshis were accused of participating in protests in the UAE resembling those against the prime minister of Bangladesh. They were swiftly convicted by a federal court in the UAE for gathering and inciting unrest. Human Rights Watch denounced the sentences as arbitrary and based on peaceful demonstrations.
The move to pardon the prisoners came after a conversation between Sheikh Mohamed and Bangladesh’s interim leader following last month’s protests in Bangladesh. The unrest began with student-led demonstrations and escalated into mass calls for the prime minister to resign.
As the third largest expatriate community in the UAE, Bangladeshis often work in low-wage jobs and send money back home to their families. The UAE, with its limited tolerance for dissent, prohibits criticism of leaders and restricts freedom of expression.