Tag: united arab emirates

  • Matthew Hedges: Jailed UAE spy row Briton ‘terrified’

    Matthew Hedges Image copyright EPA/DANIELA TEJADA Symbol caption The UAE govt is learning a request for clemency made via Matthew Hedges’ family

    A British academic, convicted of spying in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and jailed for all times, is “absolutely terrified”, his wife says.

    Daniela Tejada stated she had had “five mins” at the phone with Matthew Hedges for the first time considering his sentencing and he’s “now not smartly”.

    Hedges, 31, denied spying and mentioned he were researching his PhD. Prosecutors said he confessed.

    The UAE government is learning a request for clemency through his circle of relatives.

    Ms Tejada confirmed the request have been made, adding: “we can wait to look what occurs.”

    Symbol Copyright @BBCPaulAdams @BBCPaulAdams

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    Twitter post by @BBCPaulAdams: Things looking a bit more positive for Matthew Hedges this evening. Foreign office sources say they regard earlier UAE FM statement as “olive branch.” “We wanted to respond in kind.” Image Copyright @BBCPaulAdams @BBCPaulAdams

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    Mr Hunt met Ms Tejada within the wake of her complaint of the united kingdom executive for failing to take an organization sufficient stance with the UAE.

    However, talking afterwards, Ms Tejada thanked the foreign secretary for “taking the time” to fulfill her at “this crucial point”.

    Hedges, a political scientist at Durham University who’s at the start from Exeter, have been within the united states of america getting to know the UAE’s security strategy for his PhD thesis whilst he used to be arrested at Dubai airport on 5 May.

    The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs mentioned the rustic was once “made up our minds to protect its vital strategic relationship with a key ally” and delivered it was hoping all sides may just to find “an amicable answer” to the case.

    (more…)

  • Yemen war: Mass funeral held for kids killed in bus assault

    Yemeni children vent anger against Riyadh and Washington on August 13, 2018 as they take part in a mass funeral Image copyright AFP

    Thousands of individuals have accrued in Yemen for the funerals of dozens of kids killed in a Saudi-led coalition assault on a bus ultimate week.

    The mass burial happened in Saada, a northern stronghold of Houthi rebels.

    Crowds chanted in protest at Saudi Arabia, which backs the Yemeni government’s struggle towards the group.

    The coalition first of all mentioned its actions had been “professional”, however later stated it would probe “collateral harm”.

    The youngsters’s bodies had been wrapped in white shrouds and carried in automobiles bearing the Houthi emblem.

    Symbol copyright Reuters Symbol caption On The funeral mourners carried pictures of those killed

    Native government say 51 people – together with FORTY children – had been killed in the air strike on a bus vacationing in Dahyan, in Saada province, closing Thursday.

    Such A Lot of the kids have been elderly between 10 and 13.

    Yemen main issue: who’s preventing whom? The war in 400 phrases Yemen may just become ‘Syria-plus’ – UN envoy Symbol copyright AFP Image caption there was a procession of the bodies from the local health facility to a sq. for prayers, after which to the graveyard

    On Monday, the international affairs minister of the United Arab Emirates – that is a part of the coalition – looked as if it would justify the use of force within the air moves.

    “Battle isn’t something that can if truth be told be a clean operation,” mentioned Anwar Gargash, according to the Related Press information agency.

    Houthi officers have labelled the raid a “crime by The United States and its allies against the youngsters of Yemen”.

    The coalition in opposition to the rebels receives logistical and intelligence make stronger from the u.s., UNITED KINGDOM and France.

    The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has referred to as for an “impartial and steered research” into the air strike.

    Symbol copyright Reuters Symbol caption many of us collected to mourn those killed and protest the airstrikes Image copyright AFP Symbol caption The Ones gathered had been offended on the persevered airstrikes Image copyright Reuters Image caption Armed Houthi opponents controlled the crowds attending the funeral