The 57 Bangladeshis who were earlier convicted by the Federal Court of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been pardoned by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the UAE, Tuesday.
The Amir of the UAE has ordered a pardon for the Bangladeshi nationals involved in last month's protests and disturbances across several emirates.
"All 57 Bangladeshis, who were earlier convicted by the Federal Court of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be deported to Bangladesh soon," Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus disclosed at a meeting with editors of media outlets, according to Chief Adviser's press wing.
The decision includes cancelling the sentences of those convicted and arranging for their deportation, the press wing has said.
At the meeting with editors, Dr Yunus said that Bangladesh had approached the UAE authorities requesting them to release the imprisoned Bangladeshis for staging the protest. Bangladesh told UAE that their protests were not staged against the Emirates government-- but against the authorities in Bangladesh.
In line with His Highness' directive, Chancellor Dr. Hamad Al Shamsi, UAE Attorney-General, has issued an order to halt the implementation of the sentences and commence deportation procedures.
In line with the top directive, Chancellor Dr Hamad Al Shamsi, UAE attorney general, has issued an order to halt the implementation of the sentences and commence deportation procedures.
The attorney general also called on all residents of the UAE to respect the country's laws, stressing that the right to express opinions is protected by the state and its legal framework.
He highlighted that the state provides lawful means for expressing views, ensuring this right does not turn into actions that could harm the interests of the nation and its people.
On 22 July, the official Emirati news agency WAM said three Bangladeshi expatriates were sentenced to life, 53 others to 10 years in prison and one to 11 years for participating in alleged protests.
The defendants had "gathered and incited riots in several streets across the UAE on 19 July" WAM said, adding they would be deported after the completion of their prison terms. The charges follow a swift investigation that was ordered on Friday, according to WAM.
The UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms, is populated mostly by expatriates, many of them south Asians who work as labourers.
Bangladeshis form the third largest expatriate group in the UAE, after Pakistanis and Indians, according to the UAE foreign ministry.
