UAE president pardons jailed Bangladesh protesters

DUBAI,— The President of the United Arab Emirates has granted clemency to 57 Bangladeshi nationals who were serving long prison sentences after participating in a rare protest within the Gulf nation, according to reports from UAE state media.

The decision by President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan effectively cancels the sentences handed down to the individuals, who will now face deportation from the UAE, as confirmed by the state-run news agency WAM on Tuesday.

The group had been sentenced in July by the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal following a swift trial. They were convicted of taking part in a demonstration criticizing Bangladesh’s then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government, amid a period of unrest in their home country.

Among those sentenced, three individuals were given life sentences, while 53 others received 10-year terms. An additional person, described by state media as having entered the UAE illegally and participated in the protest, was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

The charges against the group centered on accusations of “gathering in a public place and protesting against their home government with the intent to incite unrest,” according to the Public Prosecution. Protests of this nature are highly unusual in the UAE, a country known for its strict limits on political expression.

The pardon comes just days after Sheikh Mohamed extended congratulations to Muhammad Yunus, the newly appointed interim leader of Bangladesh, following the resignation and exile of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amid violent demonstrations.

Bangladeshis form one of the largest expatriate communities in the UAE, a nation where around 90% of the population consists of foreign workers. Many Bangladeshis hold low-paying jobs and rely on sending remittances to support their families back home.

The UAE, governed by a hereditary leadership, maintains strict controls on public dissent. Freedom of speech is limited, and organizations like political parties and labor unions are banned, making protests a rare occurrence in the country.