UAE pardons 75 more Bangladeshis arrested for July protests

The United Arab Emirates government has pardoned 75 more expatriate Bangladeshis, who were arrested for staging demonstrations in the UAE in solidarity with the anti-discrimination movement led by students in Bangladesh in July. 

With the latest pardons, the UAE has so far pardoned and released a total of 188 people under general amnesty, the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment said in a statement today (29 November). 

Earlier, on 3 September, 57 Bangladeshis who were convicted by the UAE Federal Court for staging protests were granted pardon by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus said Bangladesh had approached the UAE authorities requesting them to release the imprisoned Bangladeshis for staging protests. Bangladesh told the UAE that their protests were not staged against the Emirates government, but against the authorities in Bangladesh.

In line with the top directive, Chancellor Dr Hamad Al Shamsi, UAE attorney general, has issued an order to halt the implementation of the sentences and commence deportation procedures.

The attorney general also called on all residents of the UAE to respect the country's laws, stressing that the right to express opinions is protected by the state and its legal framework, according to Gulf News.

He highlighted that the state provides lawful means for expressing views, ensuring this right does not turn into actions that could harm the interests of the nation and its people.

On 22 July, the official Emirati news agency WAM said three Bangladeshi expatriates were sentenced to life, 53 others to 10 years in prison and one to 11 years for participating in alleged protests.

The defendants had "gathered and incited riots in several streets across the UAE on Friday [19 July]," WAM said, adding they would be deported after the completion of their prison terms. The charges follow a swift investigation that was ordered on Friday, according to WAM.

The UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms, is populated mostly by expatriates, many of them south Asians who work as labourers.

Bangladeshis form the third largest expatriate group in the UAE, after Pakistanis and Indians, according to the UAE foreign ministry.

The oil-rich Gulf state bans unauthorised protests and prohibits criticism of rulers or speech that is deemed to create or encourage social unrest.

Defamation, as well as verbal and written insults, whether published or made in private, are punishable by law. The country's penal code also criminalises offending foreign states or jeopardising ties with them.