Dubai, UAE – A court in the United Arab Emirates sentenced 57 Bangladeshi nationals to prison, including three for life imprisonment, over protests against their home government in Dubai, state media reported Monday.
The Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal handed 10-year prison sentences to 53 Bangladeshi nationals and an 11-year term to another Bangladeshi national, in addition to the three life imprisonments, according to Emirates News Agency, WAM.
The court ordered the deportation of the Bangladeshis from the UAE following their prison terms.
‘The court heard a witness who confirmed that the defendants gathered and organised large-scale marches in several streets of the UAE in protest against decisions made by the Bangladeshi government. This led to riots, disruption of public security, obstruction of law enforcement, and endangerment of public and private property. The police had warned the protesters, ordering them to disperse, to which they were unresponsive,’ WAM reported.
On Saturday, authorities in the United Arab Emirates ordered an investigation and an expedited trial of the arrested Bangladeshi nationals.
The court-appointed defence lawyer argued that there the gathering had no criminal intent and that the evidence was insufficient, demanding the acquittal of the defendants. However, the court found sufficient evidence of their guilt and convicted them accordingly.
