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<meta property = "og: description" content = "The Foreign Secretary is in charge of the United Arab Emirates to 31-year-old PhD student Matthew Hedges, who could face a life behind bars after being convicted of espionage.
On Thursday Jeremy Hunt said he had a "constructive conversation" with his opposite number, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed, tweeting: "I believe and trust he's working hard to resolve the situation asap."
The government of the UAE stressed "compelling and powerful" evidence was shown in support of the Durham University academic Matthew Hedges for spying amid an outcry in the UK over his sentencing to life imprisonment.
A law chief in the Gulf federation said the case had been "thoroughly investigated" and warned the government "does not attempt to interfere in short cases".
According to the BBC the UAE's ambassador in London, Sulaiman Almazroui, will issue a statement on Friday morning that could give an update on the case.
After returning to the UK on Thursday, Mr Hedges & # 39; wife, Daniela Tejada, with Mr Hunt and later said that they are doing so in the UK.
However, a statement by Abdulla Al Naqbi, Head of the Department of Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, set out the UAE's position.
"The UAE respects the rule of law and is committed to upholding the highest judicial standards." "All the countries with an independent judiciary, it is vital that the government does not attempt to interfere in court cases," the statement said.
"We can not give assurances to other countries about the outcome of trials." Mr Hedges & # 39; shock sentence during a five-minute hearing at an Abu Dhabi court on Wednesday prompted a furious response by UK officials.
Mr Hunt said "absolutely no evidence" to support prosecutors & # 39; Allegations that Mr Hedges was spying when he visited Dubai earlier this year.
He also threatens "serious diplomatic consequences" if the student, who is originally from Exeter, is not freed.
However Mr Al Naqbi defended the court's decision, stressing the crimes Mr Hedges is accused of "extremely serious" and protecting the UAE's national interests "must be our first priority".
"The case against Hedges was thoroughly investigated by the public prosecutor," the statement said.
"Compelling and powerful evidence is presented in the form of information provided by UAE intelligence agencies, testimonial witnesses and Hedges' own confession."
The statement rejected claims that Mr Hedges was forced to sign a document in the form of "confession" and that it was provided with translators.
The Minister also rejected claims that Mr Hedges had been mistreated while held in custody.
"Contrary to media reports, Matthew Hedges has been treated fairly and according to the constitution of the UAE." We are proud to have a system of justice that gives everyone the right to a fair trial, "it said.
A family representative said Mr Hedges was held in solitary confinement for more than five-and-a-half months, during which his "mental and physical health seriously deteriorated".
The UAE statement rebutted claims that the student had been denied access to medical and psychological care "throughout".
Mr Hedges, a Middle Eastern studies specialist, was arrested at Dubai Airport on May 5.
Professor Stuart Corbridge, vice-chancellor of Durham University, said there is no reason to believe that Matt was conducting anything other than academic research.
After a hearing in the UAE Foreign Ministry, Anwar Gargash said, "common channels", although "reluctance" of UK authorities meant it was passed to the courts.< He tweeted: "Case of Mathew Hedges extensively discussed with UK colleagues over last 5 months. Unusual & embarrassing revelations about friends & allies. "With reluctance of UK authorities to address matter thru common channels, due legal process needs to take its course." Mr Hedges was given 30 days to challenge the court ruling, and Ms Tejada on Thursday started a petition on Change.org which has gathered more than 160,000 signatures. She wrote: "Matthew may be able appeal his sentence in one month's time. Before then I am begging as many people as possible to back my petition calling on the British Government to do everything in their power to ensure the UAE let my husband come home." Mr Al Naqbi said officials had discussed the matter regularly over recent months. "Both sides hope to find an amicable solution to the Matthew Hedges case," he said. "/>
<meta name = "twitter: description" content = "The Foreign Secretary is in charge of the United Arab Emirates to 31-year-old PhD student Matthew Hedges, who could face a life behind bars after being convicted of espionage.
On Thursday Jeremy Hunt said he had a "constructive conversation" with his opposite number, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed, tweeting: "I believe and trust he's working hard to resolve the situation asap."
The government of the UAE stressed "compelling and powerful" evidence was shown in support of the Durham University academic Matthew Hedges for spying amid an outcry in the UK over his sentencing to life imprisonment.
A law chief in the Gulf federation said the case had been "thoroughly investigated" and warned the government "does not attempt to interfere in short cases".
According to the BBC the UAE's ambassador in London, Sulaiman Almazroui, will issue a statement on Friday morning that could give an update on the case.
After returning to the UK on Thursday, Mr Hedges & # 39; wife, Daniela Tejada, with Mr Hunt and later said that they are doing so in the UK.
However, a statement by Abdulla Al Naqbi, Head of the Department of Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, set out the UAE's position.
"The UAE respects the rule of law and is committed to upholding the highest judicial standards." "All the countries with an independent judiciary, it is vital that the government does not attempt to interfere in court cases," the statement said.
"We can not give assurances to other countries about the outcome of trials." Mr Hedges & # 39; shock sentence during a five-minute hearing at an Abu Dhabi court on Wednesday prompted a furious response by UK officials.
Mr Hunt said "absolutely no evidence" to support prosecutors & # 39; Allegations that Mr Hedges was spying when he visited Dubai earlier this year.
He also threatens "serious diplomatic consequences" if the student, who is originally from Exeter, is not freed.
However Mr Al Naqbi defended the court's decision, stressing the crimes Mr Hedges is accused of "extremely serious" and protecting the UAE's national interests "must be our first priority".
"The case against Hedges was thoroughly investigated by the public prosecutor," the statement said.
"Compelling and powerful evidence is presented in the form of information provided by UAE intelligence agencies, testimonial witnesses and Hedges' own confession."
The statement rejected claims that Mr Hedges was forced to sign a document in the form of "confession" and that it was provided with translators.
The Minister also rejected claims that Mr Hedges had been mistreated while held in custody.
"Contrary to media reports, Matthew Hedges has been treated fairly and according to the constitution of the UAE." We are proud to have a system of justice that gives everyone the right to a fair trial, "it said.
A family representative said Mr Hedges was held in solitary confinement for more than five-and-a-half months, during which his "mental and physical health seriously deteriorated".
The UAE statement rebutted claims that the student had been denied access to medical and psychological care "throughout".
Mr Hedges, a Middle Eastern studies specialist, was arrested at Dubai Airport on May 5.
Professor Stuart Corbridge, vice-chancellor of Durham University, said there is no reason to believe that Matt was conducting anything other than academic research.
After a hearing in the UAE Foreign Ministry, Anwar Gargash said, "common channels", although "reluctance" of UK authorities meant it was passed to the courts.< He tweeted: "Case of Mathew Hedges extensively discussed with UK colleagues over last 5 months. Unusual & embarrassing revelations about friends & allies. "With reluctance of UK authorities to address matter thru common channels, due legal process needs to take its course." Mr Hedges was given 30 days to challenge the court ruling, and Ms Tejada on Thursday started a petition on Change.org which has gathered more than 160,000 signatures. She wrote: "Matthew may be able appeal his sentence in one month's time. Before then I am begging as many people as possible to back my petition calling on the British Government to do everything in their power to ensure the UAE let my husband come home." Mr Al Naqbi said officials had discussed the matter regularly over recent months. "Both sides hope to find an amicable solution to the Matthew Hedges case," he said. "/>
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