UAE pardons 57 Bangladeshis jailed for anti-government protests

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has pardoned 57 Bangladeshis nationals who were imprisoned for participating in protests against their home government while in the Gulf state. The decision, announced on Tuesday by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, effectively “cancels” their sentences, according to the state news agency WAM.

The Bangladeshi expatriates, who were swiftly convicted in July for “gathering and inciting riots,” had been protesting against then-Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government, echoing the mass demonstrations that erupted in Bangladesh. The protests in the UAE, however, violated the country’s strict laws against unauthorized public gatherings and dissent, leading to severe penalties, including life sentences for three individuals and 10-year terms for 53 others.

Human Rights Watch criticized the convictions, describing the detainees as “arbitrarily detained, convicted, and sentenced to long prison terms … based on their participation in peaceful demonstrations.” The organization argued that the UAE’s crackdown was disproportionately harsh, given the nonviolent nature of the protests.

The timing of the pardon has raised speculation about its connection to recent political developments in Bangladesh. Less than a week before the pardon, Sheikh Mohamed held talks with Bangladesh’s new interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, who assumed power after Sheikh Hasina was ousted during last month’s widespread protests. These demonstrations, which began in June as student-led protests against civil service job quotas, escalated into a national movement demanding Hasina’s resignation after more than a decade in power.

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The pardoned Bangladeshis are expected to be released and deported soon, with Bangladesh’s Sangbad Sangstha news agency reporting that all 57 will return home. This move underscores the complex relationship between the UAE and its large expatriate community, particularly from Bangladesh, which forms the third-largest group of foreign workers in the country. Many of these expatriates are employed in low-wage jobs, sending remittances back to support their families.

The UAE’s decision highlights its tight control over political expression within its borders, where criticism of rulers and speech deemed to incite unrest are heavily restricted. The country’s penal code also criminalizes actions that could offend foreign states or damage diplomatic ties, reflecting its broader stance on maintaining strict order and stability.

Sheikh Mohamed’s pardon could be seen as a gesture to reset relations with Bangladesh’s new leadership, following a period of political turbulence in Dhaka that had significant reverberations even among the Bangladeshi diaspora in the UAE.