Bangladesh army enforces curfew as student-led protests spiral
NBCJUL 31 2024
UAE Jails Bangladesh Nationals Over Protests Against Their Home Gov't
Image copyright: Warren Little/Equipe/Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
More than a million hard-working Bangladesh nationals live peacefully in the UAE, abiding by the country's sovereign laws and regulations. So, it's a matter of respect for them to punish the non-resident individuals of the same nationality who commit unlawful acts, including inciting unauthorized public gatherings and protests.
Narrative B
Though appalling, the harshness of these sentences isn't exactly surprising given that the UAE has long had a notable problem with freedom of expression. The one thing that pops out and shows the autocratic nature of the country is how quick its authorities are to crack down on any kind of speech even if the matter has no significance for their country.