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Briton Matthew Hedges jailed for life on UAE spy charge | Briton Matthew Hedges jailed for life on UAE spy charge |
(35 minutes later) | |
A British PhD student has been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of spying in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). | A British PhD student has been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of spying in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). |
Matthew Hedges, 31, of Durham University, always denied the charge saying he had been conducting research. | |
A court in Abu Dhabi has declared him guilty of "spying for or on behalf of" the UK government. His family claim the verdict is based on a false confession. | A court in Abu Dhabi has declared him guilty of "spying for or on behalf of" the UK government. His family claim the verdict is based on a false confession. |
The PM said the UK was urgently seeking talks with the Emirati government. | The PM said the UK was urgently seeking talks with the Emirati government. |
Theresa May said Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt was "seeking a call with Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed". | |
Mr Hunt said he was "deeply shocked and disappointed" by the verdict. | Mr Hunt said he was "deeply shocked and disappointed" by the verdict. |
He has raised the case with the "highest levels of the UAE government" and the verdict "is not what we expect from a friend and trusted partner of the United Kingdom and runs contrary to earlier assurances". | |
In a statement Hedges' family said during the first six weeks of his detention, he was interrogated without a lawyer and consular access was unavailable. | |
During this time, they said, he was made to sign a document in Arabic which it transpired was a confession. | During this time, they said, he was made to sign a document in Arabic which it transpired was a confession. |
"Matthew does not speak or read Arabic," the family said. | |
Hedges' wife, Daniela Tejada, who was present during the brief hearing earlier, said she was in "complete shock". | Hedges' wife, Daniela Tejada, who was present during the brief hearing earlier, said she was in "complete shock". |
She said: "Matthew is innocent. The Foreign Office know this and have made it clear to the UAE authorities that Matthew is not a spy for them. | She said: "Matthew is innocent. The Foreign Office know this and have made it clear to the UAE authorities that Matthew is not a spy for them. |
"This whole case has been handled appallingly from the very beginning with no-one taking Matthew's case seriously." | "This whole case has been handled appallingly from the very beginning with no-one taking Matthew's case seriously." |
She said the British government "must take a stand now" and the UAE authorities "should feel ashamed for such an obvious injustice". | She said the British government "must take a stand now" and the UAE authorities "should feel ashamed for such an obvious injustice". |
Ms Tejada said her husband shook his head as the verdict was delivered, adding: "I am very scared for Matt. | Ms Tejada said her husband shook his head as the verdict was delivered, adding: "I am very scared for Matt. |
"I don't know where they are taking him or what will happen now. Our nightmare has gotten even worse." | "I don't know where they are taking him or what will happen now. Our nightmare has gotten even worse." |
At prime minister's questions, Tory MP Crispin Blunt told Mrs May she should make clear to the UAE that "if he is not released, I don't see why we should be committed to their defence". | |
Paul Adams | Paul Adams |
BBC diplomatic correspondent | BBC diplomatic correspondent |
I was confidently expecting that we would hear some good news today because all the indications through private channels, and things I understood the family had been hearing, that the Foreign Office had been hearing, that MPs had been hearing, was that the UAE was frankly a little embarrassed about this case and wanted it over with. | |
So no-one was expecting a sentence of life imprisonment, that has absolutely stunned everyone. | So no-one was expecting a sentence of life imprisonment, that has absolutely stunned everyone. |
According to Abu Dhabi newspaper The National, a life sentence means a maximum of 25 years in jail, after which Hedges would be deported. | |
Hedges, who is also liable for the costs of the case, has 30 days to appeal during which time he will be held in custody, the paper reports. | |
It also quotes Attorney General Dr Hamad Al Shamsi who said Hedges "admitted to the claims against him" during questioning. | |
Mr Hunt has urged the UAE to reconsider the case. | |
"Our consular officials have been in close contact with Matthew Hedges and his family," he said. | |
"We will continue to do everything possible to support him." | "We will continue to do everything possible to support him." |
Hedges is said to be in a poor state of mental health, the BBC understands, and Ms Tejada has previously criticised the lack of treatment he received in prison. | Hedges is said to be in a poor state of mental health, the BBC understands, and Ms Tejada has previously criticised the lack of treatment he received in prison. |
His family allege his physical and mental health "seriously deteriorated" during solitary confinement and he was fed a "cocktail of medication" by guards that caused him to vomit on a daily basis. | His family allege his physical and mental health "seriously deteriorated" during solitary confinement and he was fed a "cocktail of medication" by guards that caused him to vomit on a daily basis. |
Vice-Chancellor of Durham University, Professor Stuart Corbridge said the conditions Hedges was held in "breached his human rights". | |
"[And] this judgement has been delivered in the absence of anything resembling due process or a fair trial," he 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 other than legitimate academic research. | |
"We are committed to doing what we can to get Matt home safely and swiftly." |