UAE pardons 57 Bangladeshis for protest involvement amid unrest

On Tuesday, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi, announced a pardon for 57 Bangladeshi nationals who had been convicted for participating in protests in the UAE. These individuals were involved in demonstrations that erupted in July, driven by unrest in their home country of Bangladesh, where a controversial quota system for government jobs sparked widespread protests. The UAE's strict laws against public protests led to rapid trials and severe sentences for those involved. The Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal had previously sentenced 53 of the Bangladeshis to 10 years in prison, while one received an 11-year term and three others were given life sentences. The charges included gathering in public to protest against their home government, obstructing law enforcement, and causing property damage. However, Human Rights Watch criticized these actions, labeling the detentions as arbitrary and the sentences as excessively harsh for what they described as peaceful demonstrations. The decision to pardon these individuals followed a telephone conversation between Sheikh Mohammed and Bangladesh's interim prime minister, Muhammad Yunus, who took office after the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amid escalating protests. The unrest in Bangladesh resulted in over 600 fatalities, according to UN estimates, highlighting the severity of the situation. The UAE's action reflects its broader approach to managing dissent, particularly among its large expatriate population, which includes many Bangladeshis. The pardon not only cancels the sentences but also facilitates the deportation of the pardoned individuals back to Bangladesh, signaling a potential easing of tensions between the two nations.