57 Bangladeshis
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has imposed severe prison sentences on 57 Bangladeshi nationals who participated in protests against their own government’s policies.
According to state media reports, the sentences reflect the UAE’s stringent stance on public demonstrations, with three of the defendants receiving life imprisonment for “inciting riots” in various streets across the UAE.
The remaining 54 individuals were sentenced to 10 years in prison each, while one person received an 11-year sentence.
During the trial, which concluded on Sunday, the defense lawyer contended that the protests were not intended to be criminal and argued that the evidence against the defendants was inadequate.
Despite these arguments, the UAE court upheld the harsh sentences, reflecting the country’s severe approach to managing dissent.
Amnesty International has denounced the UAE’s “extreme reaction” to the protests, describing the punishments as disproportionate and an overreaction by the authorities.
The organization criticized the UAE for its strict prohibition of protests, noting that foreign nationals make up nearly 90% of the UAE’s population, with Bangladeshis being the third largest expatriate group.
In Bangladesh, the situation is similarly tense, with recent student-led protests against government job quotas resulting in over 150 deaths and 500 arrests.
The unrest has led to a nationwide curfew and the suspension of internet services. Protest leaders in Bangladesh have issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding the lifting of the curfew, the restoration of internet access, and the resignation of officials responsible for the violence against demonstrators.
The UAE trial revealed that the Bangladeshi defendants had organized large-scale marches across various streets in the UAE to protest decisions made by the Bangladeshi government.
The court heard that these protests caused “riots, disruption of public security, obstruction of law enforcement, and endangerment of public and private property.” Despite police warnings to disperse, the protesters did not comply, leading to their arrest and subsequent sentencing.
The court’s ruling also includes deportation orders for the defendants following the completion of their prison terms.
The Bangladeshi government has not yet commented on the UAE court’s decision, but its consulate in Dubai has urged its citizens to adhere to local laws.
Amnesty International’s UAE researcher, Devin Kenney, criticized this as the second mass trial in the UAE this month where numerous individuals were sentenced to “lengthy prison terms overnight on charges involving no violence.”
Kenney highlighted the UAE’s prioritization of suppressing dissent, noting that the country’s extreme response to public protests reflects a broader strategy to quash any form of dissent.
Earlier in July, a UAE court also sentenced 43 human rights defenders and political dissidents to life imprisonment for allegedly creating a “terrorist organization,” a trial criticized by human rights groups as a “mockery of justice.”
These groups argued that the organization was simply an “independent advocacy group,” underscoring ongoing concerns about the UAE’s handling of dissent and human rights issues.
