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LONDON – The family of a British academic imprisoned in the United Arab Emirates for alleged espionage has been sentenced to life imprisonment.
Matthew Hedges, a 31-year-old PhD student in Middle Eastern Studies at Durham University, was arrested at the Dubai airport on May 5. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt traveled to the United Arab Emirates to make representations on his behalf.
Hunt voiced his shock on Wednesday and said the decision "is not what we expect from a friend and trusted UK partner and goes against the assurances given previously. "
According to Hunt, the consular officials have been in close contact with the academic's family and the affair "will have repercussions on relations between our two countries, which must be based on trust".
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