A UAE court has sentenced 57 Bangladeshi nationals to lengthy prison terms for participating in protests against their home government’s policies. Among those convicted, three individuals received life sentences for allegedly inciting riots across various streets in the UAE, while 53 others were sentenced to ten years in prison, and one individual received an eleven-year term.
During the trial, the defendants’ court-appointed lawyer argued that the protests lacked criminal intent and claimed that the evidence presented was insufficient to warrant such severe penalties. Protests are largely prohibited in the UAE, where expatriates constitute nearly 90% of the population, with Bangladeshis being the third-largest foreign community.
In Bangladesh, protests have turned violent recently, leading to over 150 fatalities and 500 arrests amidst student-led demonstrations opposing job quota policies. This unrest poses a significant challenge to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been in office for 15 years.
Reports indicate that the court found the 57 Bangladeshis had orchestrated large-scale demonstrations in the UAE, protesting decisions made by the Bangladeshi government. The court asserted that these actions resulted in riots, jeopardizing public safety and causing disruptions to law enforcement. Authorities had previously warned the protesters to disperse, but they did not comply.
Following the sentencing, the court ordered the defendants to be deported upon completing their prison terms. While the Bangladeshi government has not made an official statement, its consulate in Dubai reminded citizens of the importance of adhering to local laws.
Earlier, another court in the UAE sentenced 43 human rights advocates and political dissidents to life imprisonment for allegedly forming a terrorist organization, a decision that has drawn significant criticism from human rights groups, characterizing the group as an independent advocacy organization.
