UAE pardons British academic

He was sentenced to life as spy


FE Team | Published: November 26, 2018 18:00:58 | Updated: November 28, 2018 18:03:33


UAE pardons British academic

The United Arab Emirates on Monday pardoned and released British academic Matthew Hedges jailed for life on spying charges.

The academic secured the pardon as the UAE granted a request for clemency after showing a video of him purportedly confessing to membership of the UK’s MI6 intelligence service, reports Reuters.

The case has strained ties between the long-time allies, leading London to issue a forceful diplomatic response after last week’s verdict was handed down, with a warning that it could hurt relations.

The UAE president issued the pardon as part of a mass clemency of more than 700 prisoners to mark the country’s National Day, according to a statement on state news agency WAM.

The pardon was effective immediately and Matthew Hedges, a 31-year-old doctoral student at Durham University held for more than six months, will be allowed to leave the country “once formalities are completed,” the statement said.

A UAE official later said Hedges lad been freed.

Britain’s Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt welcomed the move, which he called “fantastic news”.

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