UAE Sentences British Student Accused of Espionage to Life Imprisonment

A court in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, November 21, sentenced Matthew Hedges, a British student, to life imprisonment on charges of espionage for the government of that country. Prime Minister Theresa May described the ruling as "disappointing." Mr. Hedges' family stated that the court session lasted only five minutes and that his lawyer was not present. Theresa May expressed concern and disappointment over the ruling during a session in the British Parliament, stating, "We are worried and disappointed by the ruling issued today." She and Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt indicated they would discuss the matter with the highest officials of the UAE government. The Foreign Secretary stated in a statement, "Today's ruling is not what we expect from a friendly and reliable partner of Britain and contradicts previous assurances given regarding this case." He added that the UAE's handling of this case would impact relations between the two countries and urged the country to reconsider the ruling. Matthew Hedges, a 31-year-old PhD student at Durham University, was arrested at Dubai airport on May 5 after a two-week stay for academic research. His family claims that the evidence presented against him in court consists of parts of his doctoral thesis research. Daniela Tiada, Mr. Hedges' wife, who attended the court session, said, "I am completely shocked and don’t know what to do." A Reuters reporter was not allowed to attend the closed court session. The court's statement was published in the state newspaper "The National." According to this newspaper, in the UAE, a life sentence for foreign nationals means a maximum of 25 years in prison and repatriation to their country. The court's statement also indicated that Matthew Hedges' belongings and research would be confiscated, and he has 30 days to appeal the ruling. Reuters adds that the UAE government has not yet commented on this matter. Mr. Hedges' family states that he was released on bail at the end of October but had previously spent more than five months in solitary confinement. They claim that Mr. Hedges was forced to sign confessions in Arabic, a language he does not speak, and that his physical and mental condition deteriorated significantly during his imprisonment. The Emirati newspaper The National reported that Mr. Hedges was arrested after an Emirati citizen reported to the police that he was seeking sensitive information, and he confessed to his crimes during interrogation. According to information from the Durham University website, Matthew Hedges is a PhD student at the School of Government and International Relations, researching military-civilian relations, political economy, and tribalism. Over 120 academics from around the world have signed a petition urging the UAE government to release Mr. Hedges. Durham University and the University of Exeter, where Mr. Hedges completed his undergraduate studies, issued a joint statement expressing concern about his situation and reminding that he conducted his research in accordance with university policies.