In the United Arab Emirates, 57 Bangladeshi nationals have received substantial prison sentences for participating in protests against their government on UAE soil. According to state-run Wam news agency, three individuals were handed life sentences for “fomenting unrest across various streets in the UAE,” while 53 others were given 10-year terms and one received an 11-year sentence.
During the trial on Sunday, the defense lawyer, appointed by the court, argued that the protests lacked criminal intent and that the evidence was insufficient. Nevertheless, the court dismissed these claims and ruled that the convicted individuals be deported following the completion of their sentences.
Demonstrations are largely prohibited in the UAE, where expatriates constitute nearly 90% of the population, with Bangladeshis being the third-largest expatriate group.
This development comes amidst significant unrest in Bangladesh, where student-led protests against government job quotas have resulted in over 150 deaths and 500 arrests. Protest leaders have issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding the end of a nationwide curfew and the restoration of internet services, along with the resignation of officials responsible for the violence. This wave of demonstrations represents one of the most formidable challenges to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year administration.
Wam reported that the trial revealed the Bangladeshi nationals had organized extensive marches protesting decisions by their home government, leading to riots, public security disruptions, and threats to public and private property. Despite police orders to disperse, the protesters continued their activities.
In a social media statement on Sunday, the Bangladeshi consulate in Dubai urged its citizens to abide by local laws. Amnesty International’s UAE researcher, Devin Kenney, noted that this was the second mass trial in the UAE within the month, resulting in substantial prison terms for numerous individuals on non-violent charges. Earlier, on July 10, a different UAE court issued life sentences to 43 human rights advocates and political dissidents accused of “creating a terrorist organization,” which human rights organizations have decried as a “mockery of justice.”
