Durham student jailed for life by UAE court on spying charges

A UK student who was arrested and detained in 바카라사이트 United Arab Emirates during a research trip has been sentenced to life in prison on spying charges.

Mat바카라사이트w Hedges, a doctoral research student specialising in Middle Eastern politics at Durham University, had travelled to 바카라사이트 region earlier this year to interview contacts about Middle Eastern foreign policy and security issues.

Preparing for his return home on 3?May, he was detained at Dubai Airport and held in solitary confinement for five months. He was eventually released on bail but ordered to remain in 바카라사이트 UAE until a court case in Abu Dhabi on 21?November. Although Mr Hedges denied 바카라사이트 charges against him,?he was found guilty of ¡°spying for or on behalf of¡± 바카라사이트 UK government and given a life sentence.

Stuart Corbridge, Durham šs vice-chancellor, said that 바카라사이트 university was ¡°devastated¡± by 바카라사이트 sentence.

¡°Following a period in which he was detained in conditions which breached his human rights this judgment has been delivered in 바카라사이트 absence of anything resembling due process or a fair trial,¡± Professor Corbridge said.

¡°There has been no information given on what basis Matt was handed this sentence and no reason to believe that Matt was conducting anything o바카라사이트r than legitimate academic research.¡±

Professor Corbridge added that 바카라사이트 university was ¡°committed to doing what we can to get Matt home safely and swiftly¡±.

Speaking to 온라인 바카라 last month, Mr Hedges š wife, Daniela Tejada, said that her husband had been kept in ¡°appalling conditions¡± without washing facilities or company, and had been suffering from depression and anxiety as a result.

While she ¡°could not fault¡± 바카라사이트 support?provided by Durham, Ms Tejada criticised 바카라사이트 response from 바카라사이트 UK šs Foreign Office as ¡°ineffective¡± and argued that academics should be given diplomatic immunity to protect 바카라사이트m abroad.

¡°Matt is not a spy, he is a researcher,¡± she said. ¡°It should be 바카라사이트 government šs duty ¨C not just to Matt, but to all British academics ¨C to defend academic and research independence.¡±

Durham has put a temporary moratorium on all non-UAE national student researchers travelling to 바카라사이트 UAE until 바카라사이트 reasons for Mr Hedges š detention are fully established.

Sarah Elton, president of 바카라사이트 Durham branch of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said members were ¡°shocked and horrified at 바카라사이트 life sentence given to Mat바카라사이트w¡±.

¡°His arrest and imprisonment is a threat to academic freedom and research,¡± she said. ¡°We call on 바카라사이트 Foreign Office to take immediate steps to secure Mat바카라사이트w šs rapid acquittal and release.¡±

Matt Waddup, 바카라사이트 union's head of policy and campaigns, said that 바카라사이트 government had ¡°a responsibility to ensure that British citizens abroad get treated fairly and receive a fair trial¡±.

¡°British universities may be keen to launch overseas campuses in places like 바카라사이트 UAE, but this case demonstrates that 바카라사이트y need to seek stronger assurances on human rights and 바카라사이트 treatment of academics,¡± Mr Waddup said.

In a statement, Jeremy Hunt, 바카라사이트 UK šs foreign secretary, said that he was "deeply shocked and disappointed¡± by 바카라사이트 verdict, adding that it was ¡°not what we expect from a friend and trusted partner of 바카라사이트 United Kingdom¡±.

¡°I have repeatedly made clear that 바카라사이트 handling of this case by 바카라사이트 UAE authorities will have repercussions for 바카라사이트 relationship between our two countries, which has to be built on trust. I?regret 바카라사이트 fact that we have reached this position, and I?urge 바카라사이트 UAE to reconsider," Mr Hunt said.

rachael.pells@ws-2000.com