UAE Court sentences 57 Bangladeshis to lengthy prison terms for anti- govt protests

New Delhi, July 22: A court in the UAE has sentenced 57 Bangladeshi nationals to lengthy prison terms for protesting against their own government, according to a BBC report. Three of the defendants received life sentences for “inciting riots in several streets across the UAE,” while 53 others were given 10-year sentences, and one individual was sentenced to 11 years. These details were reported by the state-run Wam news agency, as quoted by the BBC.

During the trial, which took place on Sunday, the defendants' court-appointed lawyer argued that the gatherings were not criminal in nature and that the evidence presented was insufficient.

Protesting is effectively illegal in the UAE, a country where foreigners constitute nearly 90% of the population. Bangladeshis are the third largest expatriate community in the UAE. The protests in the Gulf state were a reflection of the larger unrest in Bangladesh, where student-led demonstrations against government job quotas have led to significant violence, with over 150 people killed and 500 arrested.

This turmoil presents one of the most serious challenges to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been in power for 15 consecutive years. According to Wam, the 57 Bangladeshis on trial in the UAE were accused of organizing large-scale marches in protest against decisions made by the Bangladeshi government. These actions allegedly resulted in riots, disruption of public security, obstruction of law enforcement, and endangerment of public and private property. The police reportedly warned the protesters to disperse, but they did not comply.

The court dismissed the defendants' arguments and ordered that they be deported after serving their sentences. There has been no immediate response from the Bangladeshi government, though its consulate in Dubai posted a social media message on Sunday urging citizens to respect local laws.