A British academic was today sentenced to life in jail in the UAE for alleged spying — sparking a furious response from Britain.
The court hearing for Matthew Hedges in Abu Dhabi lasted less than five minutes and his lawyer was not present, according to his family.
His devastated wife Daniela Tejada said: “I am in complete shock and I don’t know what to do. Matthew is innocent.”
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Theresa May said: “We are deeply disappointed and concerned by this verdict. I realise how difficult and distressing this is, both for Matthew Hedges and also for his family. We are raising it with the emirate authorities at the highest level.”
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt condemned the verdict and warned there would be “repercussions” for relations between the two countries. “I am deeply shocked and disappointed,” he said.
“Today’s verdict is not what we expect from a friend and trusted partner of the United Kingdom and runs contrary to earlier assurances.”
Ms Tejada was allowed into the courtroom but a Reuters journalist was barred and it was closed to the public.
A life sentence for a non-Emirati entails a maximum 25 years in jail and is followed by deportation, according to local sources.
Mr Hedges, a 31-year-old doctoral student at Durham University, has been held in the United Arab Emirates since May 5, when he was arrested at Dubai airport after a two-week research visit.
The UAE government said he had been charged with “spying for and on behalf of a foreign state” and the academic was reportedly held in solitary confinement for months.
He was researching his PhD thesis. He is understood to have been examining the impact of the Arab Spring revolutions on UAE foreign and security policy, and to have interviewed people about this during his trip.
At the last hearing, on October 24, a court-appointed lawyer insisted Mr Hedges was innocent, arguing that notes from his research did not contain anything confidential and the court should review them. The court had agreed and postponed the hearing until today.
Mr Hedges, who lives in Exeter, had been freed from detention on October 29 and was staying in Dubai, with an ankle tag monitoring his movements.
Mr Hunt raised his case on visit to Abu Dhabi on November 12, speaking to the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed, and foreign minister Abdullah bin Zayed.
The Foreign Secretary said: “Our consular officials have been in close contact with Matthew Hedges and his family. I have repeatedly made clear that the handling of this case by the UAE authorities will have repercussions for the relationship between our two countries, which has to be built on trust. I urge the UAE to reconsider.”
Ms Tejada has described the situation as “horrifying” and pleaded with the Government to publicly state that her husband is innocent of the charges.
