Islamabad:A court in the United Arab Emirates has sentenced 57 Bangladeshi nationals to extended prison terms for protesting against their own government in the Gulf state.
According to the UAE government’s official news agency, three unidentified suspects have also been sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of inciting disturbances on various UAE roads, while 53 others have been sentenced to 10 years each and one to 11 years.
The UAE court allowed Bangladeshi residents to appoint their own defense lawyers, who argued during the trial that the demonstrators had no criminal intent in protesting for their rights on UAE roads and presented insufficient evidence against them.
According to the UAE’s official news agency, the court was informed that the 57 Bangladeshi residents organized large-scale protest marches against decisions of the Bangladeshi government on various UAE roads. As a result of these disturbances, public safety was compromised, obstacles were created for law enforcement agencies, and both public and private properties were endangered.
Police exercised restraint and ordered dispersal of the demonstrators, who did not react to the directive. After hearing the prosecution’s arguments, the court rejected the defense’s claims and ordered their deportation after serving their sentences.
Amnesty International has strongly condemned the UAE’s severe reaction to purely public protests on its soil and criticized the sentences imposed on Bangladeshi protesters.
It should be noted that in Bangladesh, during protests led by students against quotas in government jobs, more than 150 people have been killed and over 500 have been arrested. In Bangladesh, protest leaders have demanded the lifting of curfews and restoration of internet services, while also calling for the resignation of officials accused of violence against protesters.
This incident is one of the most severe challenges Sheikh Hussaina has faced as Prime Minister of the country in the last 15 years.
There has been no immediate comment from the government of Bangladesh regarding the arrest and sentences of Bangladeshi residents in the UAE. However, the consulate in Dubai posted on social media, urging citizens to respect local laws.
According to Devon Kenny, a researcher at Amnesty International in the UAE, this is the second case in the current month where heavy prison sentences have been imposed on dozens of individuals without any element of violence in peaceful protests.
