UAE pardons 57 Bangladeshis jailed for anti-Hasina protests
Al JazeeraSep 18
UAE Pardons 57 Bangladeshis Imprisoned for Staging Protests
Above: UAE Pres. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Image copyright: Tingshu Wang/Pool/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Pres. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has pardoned 57 Bangladeshi citizens who were convicted in July for staging unauthorized protests in the United Arab Emirates against then-Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
While the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal sentenced 53 people to 10 years in prison and 11 years to another, three received life sentences.
The Spin
Narrative A
Bangladeshis are the third largest expatriate group in the UAE and are expected to show utmost restraint on its soil. It's a given that they know that the oil-rich Gulf country bans unauthorized protests, prohibits speech that can encourage social unrest, and criminalizes defamation. This act of clemency — releasing Bangladeshi nationals who violated the country's laws — exemplifies Al Nahyan's compassionate leadership.
Narrative B
While this decision is welcomed, the Bangladeshi expatriates shouldn't have been detained, convicted, and sentenced for peacefully protesting against their erstwhile government in the first place. The UAE's reaction to a demonstration that had no criminal intent was extreme. The UAE must apologize for arbitrarily detaining the marchers, who neither engaged in violent acts nor used inflammatory language during their protests.