A court in the United States of Emirates (UAE) has handed lengthy prison sentences to 57 Bangladeshi for holding protests against their own country’s government in the Gulf state. The Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal sentenced three of the 57 individuals to life imprisonment for “inciting riots in several streets across the UAE on Friday”, while the 53 others received 10-year prison sentences. The remaining other person was sentenced to 11 years in jail, according to a state-run news agency, WAM.
It is to be noted that unauthorised demonstrations are banned in the Islamic country.
As per the news report, the 57 Bangladeshi will be deported back to their country after serving their sentence.
Citing the state-appointed defence lawyer, the report said that the defendants argued that there was no criminal intent behind their protest and that the evidence was insufficient.
What Is Happening In Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, nationwide protests were sparked by controversial civil service hiring rules. The protests, led by university students, resulted in violent clashes that claimed more than 150 lives and 1200 arrests, according to a report by AFP.
These protests have been one of the most serious challenges Sheikh Hasina has faced in her 15 consecutive rule as the prime minister.
As per a BBC report, on Monday, some protest leaders gave a 48-hour ultimatum to the government to lift the nationwide curfew and restore internet services. They also demanded the resignation of officials who they blamed for violence against protestors.
Trial Of Bangladeshi Expatriates
According to WAM, during the trial of the 57 Bangladeshis, it was heard that they had “organised large-scale marches in several streets of the UAE in protest against decisions made by the Bangladeshi government”.
“This led to riots, disruption of public security, obstruction of law enforcement, and endangerment of public and private property,” it said. “The police had warned the protesters, ordering them to disperse, to which they were unresponsive”.
In a social media post, the Bangladesh consulate in Dubai urged citizens to respect local laws on Sunday.
The UAE, an autocratic federation of seven sheikhdoms, is predominately populated by expatriates from South Asia. According to the UAE foreign ministry, Bangladeshi nationals are the third-largest expatriate group, following Pakistani and Indian nationals. The oil-rich Gulf state bans unauthorised protests and prohibits criticism of rulers or speech that is deemed to create or encourage social unrest, as per an AFP report.
In UAE, 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 relations with them, according to AFP.
While speaking to AFP, Amnesty International's UAE researcher Devin Kenney said it was "the second mass trial in the UAE this month, with dozens of people sentenced to huge prison terms literally overnight, on charges involving no element of violence".
Kenney added the UAE's "extreme reaction to the mere existence of a public protest on Emirati soil shows that the state places great priority on suppressing any manifestation of dissent in the country."