Current Events > UK student sentenced to life in prison in Saudi Arabia for "spying"

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FLUFFYGERM 11/21/18 5:26:43 PM #1:	https://www.ft.com/content/53ceb434-ed7c-11e8-8180-9cf212677a57 British student Matthew Hedges has been sentenced to life imprisonment in the United Arab Emirates for allegedly spying on behalf of the UK government, complicating relations between the two close allies. Hedges family said the Durham university PhD candidate, who was arrested in May, was sentenced during a five-minute hearing on Wednesday at a court in the capital, Abu Dhabi, without his lawyer in attendance. I am in complete shock and I dont know what to do. Matthew is innocent, his wife Daniela Tejada said in a statement. The (UK) Foreign Office know this and have made it clear to the UAE authorities that Matthew is not a spy for them. She called on the British government to take a stand for her husband, who has suffered from depression. He was shaking when he heard the verdict, she said. Jeremy Hunt, the UKs foreign secretary, warned that the sentence could threaten relations between Britain and the UAE and urged the Gulf state to reconsider. Todays verdict is not what we expect from a friend and trusted partner of the United Kingdom and runs contrary to earlier assurances, he said in a statement. I have repeatedly made clear that the handling of this case by the UAE authorities will have repercussions for the relationship between our two countries, which has to be built on trust. Prime Minister Theresa May said she was deeply disappointed and concerned about the case and would be raising it with the Emirati authorities at the highest level. Hamad al-Shamsi, the UAEs attorney-general, said Hedges had been sentenced after pleading guilty to the charges. He has the right to appeal against the verdict at the federal supreme court, where evidence could be re-examined, the attorney-general added. Hedges, 31, plans to appeal against the verdict. He was detained at Dubai airport as he was leaving the country after carrying out interviews for his thesis relating to UAE military development in the post-Arab Spring environment. During the first six weeks of more than five months in solitary confinement, he was interrogated without a lawyer or consular access and signed a document in Arabic which has since been disclosed as a confession, according to his wife. He does not speak or read Arabic. The sentencing comes amid increasing scrutiny on the Gulfs autocracies after the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The UAE has cracked down on political dissent and free speech in the wake of the popular uprisings that rocked the Middle East in 2011, jailing Emirati members of an Islamist group and other activists who had called for more democracy. Abu Dhabi, alongside Saudi Arabia, its close ally, has led efforts to contain the expansion of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood and Iran across the Middle East. The two allies have led an embargo on neighbouring Qatar over its links to Islamism and launched a bloody war in Yemen to oust the Iran-allied Houthi militia. The shifting regional environment has caused some tensions with the UK, a longstanding ally, over Abu Dhabis perception that London was reluctant to regard Islamism as an existential threat to the Gulf monarchies. While the two countries have historically enjoyed close security and intelligence co-operation in the region, the UAE has wielded its military might as major arms buyer at the vanguard of a more muscular foreign policy to fill a perceived western vacuum in the wake of the Arab uprisings. --- Do good. Eat communists. <cite>FLUFFYGERM posted [p:912813710] in UK student... [t:77225759]...</cite> <quote>https://www.ft.com/content/53ceb434-ed7c-11e8-8180-9cf212677a57 British student Matthew Hedges has been sentenced to life imprisonment in the United Arab Emirates for allegedly spying on behalf of the UK government, complicating relations between the two close allies. Hedges family said the Durham university PhD candidate, who was arrested in May, was sentenced during a five-minute hearing on Wednesday at a court in the capital, Abu Dhabi, without his lawyer in attendance. I am in complete shock and I dont know what to do. Matthew is innocent, his wife Daniela Tejada said in a statement. The (UK) Foreign Office know this and have made it clear to the UAE authorities that Matthew is not a spy for them. She called on the British government to take a stand for her husband, who has suffered from depression. He was shaking when he heard the verdict, she said. Jeremy Hunt, the UKs foreign secretary, warned that the sentence could threaten relations between Britain and the UAE and urged the Gulf state to reconsider. Todays verdict is not what we expect from a friend and trusted partner of the United Kingdom and runs contrary to earlier assurances, he said in a statement. I have repeatedly made clear that the handling of this case by the UAE authorities will have repercussions for the relationship between our two countries, which has to be built on trust. Prime Minister Theresa May said she was deeply disappointed and concerned about the case and would be raising it with the Emirati authorities at the highest level. Hamad al-Shamsi, the UAEs attorney-general, said Hedges had been sentenced after pleading guilty to the charges. He has the right to appeal against the verdict at the federal supreme court, where evidence could be re-examined, the attorney-general added. Hedges, 31, plans to appeal against the verdict. He was detained at Dubai airport as he was leaving the country after carrying out interviews for his thesis relating to UAE military development in the post-Arab Spring environment. During the first six weeks of more than five months in solitary confinement, he was interrogated without a lawyer or consular access and signed a document in Arabic which has since been disclosed as a confession, according to his wife. He does not speak or read Arabic. The sentencing comes amid increasing scrutiny on the Gulfs autocracies after the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The UAE has cracked down on political dissent and free speech in the wake of the popular uprisings that rocked the Middle East in 2011, jailing Emirati members of an Islamist group and other activists who had called for more democracy. Abu Dhabi, alongside Saudi Arabia, its close ally, has led efforts to contain the expansion of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood and Iran across the Middle East. The two allies have led an embargo on neighbouring Qatar over its links to Islamism and launched a bloody war in Yemen to oust the Iran-allied Houthi militia. The shifting regional environment has caused some tensions with the UK, a longstanding ally, over Abu Dhabis perception that London was reluctant to regard Islamism as an existential threat to the Gulf monarchies. While the two countries have historically enjoyed close security and intelligence co-operation in the region, the UAE has wielded its military might as major arms buyer at the vanguard of a more muscular foreign policy to fill a perceived western vacuum in the wake of the Arab uprisings.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
FLUFFYGERM 11/21/18 5:27:15 PM #2:	The UAE, a former UK protectorate home to around 100,000 Britons, is the UKs largest export market in the Middle East and the 13th biggest globally the UK has issued licences for at least 552m of arms sales to the country over the past three years. The seven-member federation is a major investor in the British economy and London, often dubbed the eighth emirate, is a popular escape for Emiratis from the summer heat. People familiar with the situation have suggested that the historic bilateral relationship may lead to his early release and deportation via a pardon, perhaps on compassionate grounds. Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a prominent Emirati commentator and former academic, said the UAE remained a safe place for research, describing the case against Hedges as solid. But overseas academics were appalled at the decision. It is an alarming day for human rights and academia today, the Gulf studies centre at Exeter University tweeted. Professor Stuart Corbridge, vice-chancellor of Durham University, said: We are committed to doing what we can to get Matt home safely and swiftly. There has been no information given on what basis Matt was handed this sentence and no reason to believe that Matt was conducting anything other than legitimate academic research. Fuck the UAE and fuck Saudi Arabia too. --- Do good. Eat communists. <cite>FLUFFYGERM posted [p:912813725] in UK student... [t:77225759]...</cite> <quote>The UAE, a former UK protectorate home to around 100,000 Britons, is the UKs largest export market in the Middle East and the 13th biggest globally the UK has issued licences for at least 552m of arms sales to the country over the past three years. The seven-member federation is a major investor in the British economy and London, often dubbed the eighth emirate, is a popular escape for Emiratis from the summer heat. People familiar with the situation have suggested that the historic bilateral relationship may lead to his early release and deportation via a pardon, perhaps on compassionate grounds. Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a prominent Emirati commentator and former academic, said the UAE remained a safe place for research, describing the case against Hedges as solid. But overseas academics were appalled at the decision. It is an alarming day for human rights and academia today, the Gulf studies centre at Exeter University tweeted. Professor Stuart Corbridge, vice-chancellor of Durham University, said: We are committed to doing what we can to get Matt home safely and swiftly. There has been no information given on what basis Matt was handed this sentence and no reason to believe that Matt was conducting anything other than legitimate academic research. Fuck the UAE and fuck Saudi Arabia too.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
RebelElite791 11/21/18 5:27:34 PM #3:	Wrong country. --- https://imgur.com/MS5SvzN Take better care of your teeth and f***, a lot more. <cite>RebelElite791 posted [p:912813737] in UK student... [t:77225759]...</cite> <quote>Wrong country.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Sativa_Rose 11/21/18 5:28:39 PM #4:	RebelElite791 posted... Wrong country. --- [This signature was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator] <cite>Sativa_Rose posted [p:912813793] in UK student... [t:77225759]...</cite> <quote><cite>RebelElite791 posted...</cite> <quote>Wrong country.</quote></quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
FLUFFYGERM 11/21/18 5:29:10 PM #5:	Sativa_Rose posted... RebelElite791 posted... Wrong country. Thanks, corrected in the post but cannot correct the title anymore. Brain farted because I just made a topic about Saudi Arabia. --- Do good. Eat communists. <cite>FLUFFYGERM posted [p:912813817] in UK student... [t:77225759]...</cite> <quote><cite>Sativa_Rose posted...</cite> <quote><cite>RebelElite791 posted...</cite> <quote>Wrong country.</quote></quote> Thanks, corrected in the post but cannot correct the title anymore. Brain farted because I just made a topic about Saudi Arabia.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Zikten 11/21/18 5:30:06 PM #6:	he will probably be freed. the UK will raise some serious shit over this. <cite>Zikten posted [p:912813871] in UK student... [t:77225759]...</cite> <quote>he will probably be freed. the UK will raise some serious shit over this.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
RiderofHogs 11/21/18 5:56:30 PM #7:	Why do people even go to these countries? --- I'll be riding shotgun, underneath the hot sun, Feeling like a someone. <cite>RiderofHogs posted [p:912815057] in UK student... [t:77225759]...</cite> <quote>Why do people even go to these countries?</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
GaryGaryGary 11/22/18 2:32:52 PM #9:	31 and still a student, he deserves locking up for life for that alone. <cite>GaryGaryGary posted [p:912858948] in UK student... [t:77225759]...</cite> <quote>31 and still a student, he deserves locking up for life for that alone.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
GunmaN1905 11/22/18 2:34:36 PM #11:	31yo student. <cite>GunmaN1905 posted [p:912859023] in UK student... [t:77225759]...</cite> <quote>31yo student.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Muffinz0rz 11/22/18 2:38:03 PM #12:	Why do people go to places like that The dude in North Korea The guy who just got murdered by going to a known dangerous isolated island People are so dumb --- Not removing this until Pat Benatar is in Super Smash Bros. (Started 8/31/2010) 2018 NFLB Autumnsim (5-6): https://i.imgtc.com/rAnphzw.png <cite>Muffinz0rz posted [p:912859166] in UK student... [t:77225759]...</cite> <quote>Why do people go to places like that The dude in North Korea The guy who just got murdered by going to a known dangerous isolated island People are so dumb</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
ImTheMacheteGuy 11/22/18 2:40:32 PM #13:	TIL Saudi Arabia and the UAE are the same country. --- Place-holder sig because new phone and old sigs not saved :/ <cite>ImTheMacheteGuy posted [p:912859271] in UK student... [t:77225759]...</cite> <quote>TIL Saudi Arabia and the UAE are the same country.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
FreedomEtrtment 11/24/18 4:55:50 AM #14:	Muffinz0rz posted... Why do people go to places like that The dude in North Korea The guy who just got murdered by going to a known dangerous isolated island People are so dumb This is supposed to be an ally <cite>FreedomEtrtment posted [p:912941546] in UK student... [t:77225759]...</cite> <quote><cite>Muffinz0rz posted...</cite> <quote>Why do people go to places like that The dude in North Korea The guy who just got murdered by going to a known dangerous isolated island People are so dumb</quote> This is supposed to be an ally</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
KStateKing17 11/24/18 5:00:28 AM #15:	GaryGaryGary posted... 31 and still a student, he deserves locking up for life for that alone. GunmaN1905 posted... 31yo student. Y'all know people can go back and get another degree or pursue another career anytime right? --- The 17th King of the State of K <cite>KStateKing17 posted [p:912941622] in UK student... [t:77225759]...</cite> <quote><cite>GaryGaryGary posted...</cite> <quote>31 and still a student, he deserves locking up for life for that alone.</quote> <cite>GunmaN1905 posted...</cite> <quote>31yo student.</quote> Y'all know people can go back and get another degree or pursue another career anytime right?</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
smoliske 11/24/18 5:11:02 AM #16:	KStateKing17 posted... GaryGaryGary posted... 31 and still a student, he deserves locking up for life for that alone. GunmaN1905 posted... 31yo student. Y'all know people can go back and get another degree or pursue another career anytime right? this is CE you're talking about, you're setting the bar way out of proportion here <cite>smoliske posted [p:912941841] in UK student... [t:77225759]...</cite> <quote><cite>KStateKing17 posted...</cite> <quote><cite>GaryGaryGary posted...</cite> <quote>31 and still a student, he deserves locking up for life for that alone.</quote> <cite>GunmaN1905 posted...</cite> <quote>31yo student.</quote> Y'all know people can go back and get another degree or pursue another career anytime right?</quote> this is CE you're talking about, you're setting the bar way out of proportion here</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Infinite 2003 11/24/18 6:11:52 AM #17:	The United Arab Emirates of Saudi Arabia --- Before I knew it there was poop on my lips. - squarion <cite>Infinite 2003 posted [p:912943050] in UK student... [t:77225759]...</cite> <quote>The United Arab Emirates of Saudi Arabia</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
catboy0_0 11/24/18 6:16:58 AM #18:	this is fucking awful and I hope he gets to return home --- I obviously like you at least a little to even talk to you -cornman one day I hope to post a message so great it ends up in someones sig -Two_Dee <cite>catboy0_0 posted [p:912943167] in UK student... [t:77225759]...</cite> <quote>this is fucking awful and I hope he gets to return home</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
EpicMickeyDrew 11/24/18 6:30:32 AM #19:	Zikten posted... he will probably be freed. the UK will raise some serious shit over this. The UK hasn't done anything in the six months he's been in prison --- Just how, pray tell, does your dick "take life"? How could a dick take a life? - XciteMe <cite>EpicMickeyDrew posted [p:912943414] in UK student... [t:77225759]...</cite> <quote><cite>Zikten posted...</cite> <quote>he will probably be freed. the UK will raise some serious shit over this.</quote> The UK hasn't done anything in the six months he's been in prison</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
EpicMickeyDrew 11/24/18 6:32:30 AM #20:	Muffinz0rz posted... Why do people go to places like that The dude in North Korea The guy who just got murdered by going to a known dangerous isolated island People are so dumb Every man dies, but not every man truly lives. Plus, abu dhabi really isn't that bad, the guy had even spent a lot of his life there. --- Just how, pray tell, does your dick "take life"? How could a dick take a life? - XciteMe <cite>EpicMickeyDrew posted [p:912943446] in UK student... [t:77225759]...</cite> <quote><cite>Muffinz0rz posted...</cite> <quote>Why do people go to places like that The dude in North Korea The guy who just got murdered by going to a known dangerous isolated island People are so dumb</quote> Every man dies, but not every man truly lives. Plus, abu dhabi really isn't that bad, the guy had even spent a lot of his life there.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
catboy0_0 11/24/18 6:36:21 AM #21:	EpicMickeyDrew posted... Every man dies, but not every man truly lives. Plus, abu dhabi really isn't that bad, the guy had even spent a lot of his life there. let's ask him if it was worth it to spend his life in prison there unjustly --- I obviously like you at least a little to even talk to you -cornman one day I hope to post a message so great it ends up in someones sig -Two_Dee <cite>catboy0_0 posted [p:912943530] in UK student... [t:77225759]...</cite> <quote><cite>EpicMickeyDrew posted...</cite> <quote>Every man dies, but not every man truly lives. Plus, abu dhabi really isn't that bad, the guy had even spent a lot of his life there.</quote> let's ask him if it was worth it to spend his life in prison there unjustly</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
1NfamousACE_2 11/24/18 7:20:41 AM #22:	PhD student in jail signing something he can't read? Fake news --- New signature needed, acquire within from management <cite>1NfamousACE_2 posted [p:912944362] in UK student... [t:77225759]...</cite> <quote>PhD student in jail signing something he can't read? Fake news</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Kastrada 11/24/18 7:24:23 AM #23:	KStateKing17 posted... GaryGaryGary posted... 31 and still a student, he deserves locking up for life for that alone. GunmaN1905 posted... 31yo student. Y'all know people can go back and get another degree or pursue another career anytime right? It's not even that. He's a literally PhD candidate. --- PoW '09 Topic of the Year Co-Winners (Rada and Texy) FFD <cite>Kastrada posted [p:912944447] in UK student... [t:77225759]...</cite> <quote><cite>KStateKing17 posted...</cite> <quote><cite>GaryGaryGary posted...</cite> <quote>31 and still a student, he deserves locking up for life for that alone.</quote> <cite>GunmaN1905 posted...</cite> <quote>31yo student.</quote> Y'all know people can go back and get another degree or pursue another career anytime right?</quote> It's not even that. He's a literally PhD candidate.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
awesome999 11/24/18 7:28:39 AM #24:	RiderofHogs posted... Why do people even go to these countries? --- When it's kids, it's "bullying" but if it were adults, it's stalking, harassment, assault, criminal threats and just general abuse. -Tmk <cite>awesome999 posted [p:912944540] in UK student... [t:77225759]...</cite> <quote><cite>RiderofHogs posted...</cite> <quote>Why do people even go to these countries?</quote></quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Chicken 11/24/18 7:29:59 AM #25:	Why arent we at war with them? Oh right, oil. If the US didnt have access to their oil, they would call them a terrorist state. --- https://youtu.be/jGbI0P4hh3o <cite>Chicken posted [p:912944559] in UK student... [t:77225759]...</cite> <quote>Why arent we at war with them? Oh right, oil. If the US didnt have access to their oil, they would call them a terrorist state.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Sativa_Rose 11/24/18 7:10:16 PM #26:	Chicken posted... Why arent we at war with them? Oh right, oil. If the US didnt have access to their oil, they would call them a terrorist state. Why isn't that true with Myanmar then? --- [This signature was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator] <cite>Sativa_Rose posted [p:912974030] in UK student... [t:77225759]...</cite> <quote><cite>Chicken posted...</cite> <quote>Why arent we at war with them? Oh right, oil. If the US didnt have access to their oil, they would call them a terrorist state.</quote> Why isn't that true with Myanmar then?</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
LastTomorrow 11/24/18 7:13:05 PM #27:	Do we still need oil? Don't we have cars that rely on other methods --- Waffle waffle waffle <cite>LastTomorrow posted [p:912974164] in UK student... [t:77225759]...</cite> <quote>Do we still need oil? Don't we have cars that rely on other methods</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
SauI_Goodman 11/24/18 7:14:17 PM #28:	Why these people have any business in the Middle East or North Korea is beyond me. You couldn't catch me (literally) dead in those countries. --- Currently playing: RDR2 (ps4) Castlevania 4 (snes), Spiderman (ps4), Resident Evil (xbone) <cite>SauI_Goodman posted [p:912974219] in UK student... [t:77225759]...</cite> <quote>Why these people have any business in the Middle East or North Korea is beyond me. You couldn't catch me (literally) dead in those countries.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Duncanwii 11/24/18 7:17:00 PM #29:	Chicken posted... Why arent we at war with them? Oh right, oil. If the US didnt have access to their oil, they would call them a terrorist state. There's also the whole they have nukes thing. Do people really want us going to war with nuclear armed countries? --- King K. Rool supporter for Super Smash Brothers Ultimate. <cite>Duncanwii posted [p:912974343] in UK student... [t:77225759]...</cite> <quote><cite>Chicken posted...</cite> <quote>Why arent we at war with them? Oh right, oil. If the US didnt have access to their oil, they would call them a terrorist state.</quote> There's also the whole they have nukes thing. Do people really want us going to war with nuclear armed countries?</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
RiderofHogs 11/24/18 7:24:32 PM #30:	EpicMickeyDrew posted... Every man dies, but not every man truly lives. Yeah, but there is nothing worth living there for. --- I'll be riding shotgun, underneath the hot sun, Feeling like a someone. <cite>RiderofHogs posted [p:912974694] in UK student... [t:77225759]...</cite> <quote><cite>EpicMickeyDrew posted...</cite> <quote>Every man dies, but not every man truly lives.</quote> Yeah, but there is nothing worth living there for.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Sativa_Rose 11/24/18 8:33:00 PM #31:	Duncanwii posted... Chicken posted... Why arent we at war with them? Oh right, oil. If the US didnt have access to their oil, they would call them a terrorist state. There's also the whole they have nukes thing. Do people really want us going to war with nuclear armed countries? Saudi Arabia doesn't have nukes. --- [This signature was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator] <cite>Sativa_Rose posted [p:912978028] in UK student... [t:77225759]...</cite> <quote><cite>Duncanwii posted...</cite> <quote><cite>Chicken posted...</cite> <quote>Why arent we at war with them? Oh right, oil. If the US didnt have access to their oil, they would call them a terrorist state.</quote> There's also the whole they have nukes thing. Do people really want us going to war with nuclear armed countries?</quote> Saudi Arabia doesn't have nukes.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
pinky0926 11/27/18 5:25:16 AM #33:	Disgusting. So glad he got released, but how fucked up would you be after all this? --- CE's Resident Scotsman. https://imgur.com/ILz2ZbV <cite>pinky0926 posted [p:913111584] in UK student... [t:77225759]...</cite> <quote>Disgusting. So glad he got released, but how fucked up would you be after all this?</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
TomNook20 11/29/18 3:13:16 AM #35:	So was he spying or not? --- http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/098/7/4/tom_nook_by_themerce-d3dhi0q.png http://www.gameswagonline.com/uploads/9/0/8/9/9089979/1372277527.jpg <cite>TomNook20 posted [p:913229255] in UK student... [t:77225759]...</cite> <quote>So was he spying or not?</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
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Current Events > UK student sentenced to life in prison in Saudi Arabia for "spying" (+) Yeah! (+)

Current Events > UK student sentenced to life in prison in Saudi Arabia for "spying"