UAE president pardons all 57 Bangladeshis convicted in rioting case
All 57 Bangladeshis who were earlier convicted by the UAE Federal Court were granted pardon by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan today.
The pardoned individuals will soon be deported back to Bangladesh, as revealed by Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus during a meeting with media editors today, according to the Chief Adviser's press wing.
During the meeting, Dr. Yunus shared that the Bangladesh government had approached UAE authorities, requesting the release of the imprisoned Bangladeshis, explaining that their protests were not directed against the UAE government but were instead in response to issues in Bangladesh.
Following this high-level request, UAE Attorney General Chancellor Dr. Hamad Al Shamsi issued an order to suspend the enforcement of the sentences and initiate deportation procedures.
The attorney general also emphasized the importance of respecting the laws of the UAE, reminding all residents that the right to express opinions is safeguarded by the state within its legal framework, as reported by Gulf News. He stressed that while the state supports lawful means of expressing views, these rights should not be exercised in ways that could harm the country's interests or its people.
On July 22, the official Emirati news agency WAM reported that three Bangladeshi expatriates had been sentenced to life imprisonment, 53 others to 10 years, and one to 11 years for participating in alleged protests.
Bangladeshis are the third-largest expatriate community in the UAE, following Pakistanis and Indians, according to the UAE Foreign Ministry. The UAE, an oil-rich Gulf nation, prohibits unauthorized protests and restricts speech that could be seen as critical of the rulers or as inciting social unrest.
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