UAE pardons 25 convicted in July Uprising cases

Staff Reporter:

The President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has pardoned 25 Bangladeshi citizens who were convicted by UAE courts, following a formal request from the government of Bangladesh.

The clemency was granted to Bangladeshi nationals arrested in the UAE during July 2024 in connection with events linked to the uprising in Bangladesh, said a press release.

They were later sentenced under UAE law, a spokesperson of the UAE Embassy in Dhaka said on Sunday.
“All 25 individuals have been pardoned and have returned home,” officials confirmed.

The expatriate Bangladeshis were detained at different times during July 2024, a period marked by intense political unrest in Bangladesh.

Their arrests were linked to activities related to those developments, though authorities did not disclose details of the individual cases. Bangladeshi officials welcomed the decision, calling it a humanitarian gesture that reflects the UAE leadership’s commitment to compassion, tolerance and justice.

They also said the move underscores the close and longstanding relations between the two countries.

This is not the first time Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed has extended clemency to Bangladeshi nationals. In earlier instances, the UAE president pardoned Bangladeshi expatriates convicted for staging rare protests in the country, steps widely seen as highlighting the UAE’s humanitarian approach.

Officials said the latest pardon once again reflects the generosity of the UAE president and the strength of bilateral ties between the United Arab Emirates and the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.