UAE Pardons 57 Bangladeshi Protesters Amidst Stringent Regulations

The UAE leader pardoned 57 Bangladeshi nationals convicted over protests relating to unrest in Bangladesh. The decision follows a call with Bangladesh's interim prime minister. The pardoned individuals were sentenced to long prison terms, with the UAE’s strict laws on speech and public protests highlighted.

In a significant move, the leader of the United Arab Emirates has pardoned 57 Bangladeshi nationals who were convicted in rapid trials for their involvement in protests about unrest back in their home country.

The decision by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan came after a telephone conversation with Bangladesh's interim prime minister, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who took over following the ousting of longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amid intense demonstrations.

This case underscores the UAE's stringent laws that criminalize speech and public protests, especially among its large expatriate population, with Human Rights Watch calling the detentions arbitrary.

(With inputs from agencies.)