The United Arab Emirates said it will consider a clemency request to pardon a British national sentenced to life in prison for espionage.
Nov. 23 (UPI) — The United Arab Emirates said it will consider a clemency request to pardon a British national sentenced to life in prison for espionage.
Matthew Hedges, a 31-year-old British PhD student specializing in Middle Eastern studies at Durham University in England, was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday. Hedges and his wife, Daniela Tejada, deny the allegations but prosecutors said he admitted to the charges.
The sentence prompted outrage and allegations that Hedges was not given a fair trial and his sentence was handed down after a five-minute hearing. UAE ambassador in London Sulaiman Almazroui denied any wrongdoing on behalf of the UAE court system but said the government would consider a clemency request.
