Friday 14 / March / 2025
Muscat: Matthew Hedges, British academic convicted of spying in the UAE has received a presidential pardon, according to Emirati authorities.
Hedges was sentenced to life in prison last week on charges of spying against the UAE.
The Ministry of Presidential Affairs stated that a Presidential Pardon had been issued with immediate effect by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. The decision came after the family of Hedges appealed for clemency in a personal letter to President Sheikh Khalifa, which was conveyed by British consular staff to UAE authorities.
Commenting on the verdict and Presidential Pardon, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Anwar Gargash said,"His Highness the President’s gracious clemency in the customary National Day pardons allows us to return our focus to the underlying fundamental strength of the UAE/UK bi-lateral relationship and its importance to the international community.
"It was always a UAE hope that this matter would be resolved through the common channels of our longstanding partnership. This was a straightforward matter that became unnecessarily complex despite the UAE’s best efforts,” the minister added.
The customary National Day Presidential pardon includes the case of Hedges as part of clemency orders issued on the occasion of the UAE’s 47th National Day. Hedges will be permitted to leave UAE once formalities are completed.
British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt tweeted his approval of the news. In a statement, Hunt said, "Fantastic news about Matthew Hedges. Although we didn’t agree with charges we are grateful to UAE government for resolving issue speedily. But also a bittersweet moment as we remember Nazanin & other innocent people detained in Iran. Justice won’t be truly done until they too are safely home."
According to Emirati authorities, the case against Hedges was predicated on evidence secured from his electronic devices; surveillance and intelligence gathered by UAE intelligence and security agencies; as well as evidence provided by Hedges himself.
In a statement published after his sentencing last week, Abdulla Al Naqbi, Head of the Department of Legal Affairs for the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said, "The case against Mr Hedges was thoroughly investigated by the public prosecutor. Compelling and powerful evidence was presented in court.
"That included information extracted from his personal electronic devices by expert forensic analysis techniques; evidence provided by UAE intelligence Agencies; witness testaments and Mr Hedges own confession.
"The crimes Mr Hedges was accused of are extremely serious. For the UAE, like all countries, protecting our national security must be our first priority.
"The UAE is determined to protect its important strategic relationship with a key ally. Officials from both countries have discussed the matter regularly over recent months. Both sides hope to find an amicable solution to the Matthew Hedges case."
