UAE court sentences 3 to life in prison, 54 deportations against Bangladeshi protesters

The Federal Court of Appeal in Abu Dhabi on Sunday sentenced 57 Bangladeshis after they held protests across the country on Friday.
The court sentenced three of the suspects to life imprisonment for calling for demonstrations and inciting riots to put pressure on their home government. Another 53 suspects were given 10-year prison sentences, including one who entered the country illegally and took part in the riots, who was sentenced to 11 years, according to state news agency Emirates News Agency, WAM.
The court also ordered their deportation at the end of their prison sentences and the confiscation of all seized equipment.
On Friday, UAE Attorney General Dr Hamad Saif Al Shamsi ordered an immediate investigation into the arrested Bangladeshi nationals for unlawful assembly and inciting riots in several streets across the UAE, WAM added.
The suspects were brought to court after an investigation led by a team of 30 investigators confirmed their involvement in public gatherings, inciting unrest, disrupting public safety and promoting such gatherings and protests. This also included recording and distributing audiovisual footage of these actions online.
Several suspects confessed to the crimes they were accused of.
During the trial, which was followed by the media, the Public Prosecution Service demanded the highest sentence for the suspect.
The court heard a witness who confirmed that the suspects gathered and organised large-scale marches in various streets of the UAE to protest against decisions of the Bangladeshi government. This led to rioting, disruption of public safety, obstruction of law enforcement and endangerment of public and private property. The police had warned the protesters and ordered them to disperse, but they did not respond.
The court-appointed defense attorney argued that the meeting had no criminal intent and that the evidence was insufficient, and moved for the defendants’ acquittal. However, the court found sufficient evidence of their guilt and convicted them accordingly.