‘Matthew wouldn’t be the first person to be arrested in the UAE on baseless grounds’ - Kate Allen

Responding to news that Matthew Hedges, the British PhD student detained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been released on bail over spying charges made against him earlier this month, Kate Allen, Amnesty International UK’s Director, said:

“This is obviously good news, but we remain worried that - as with numerous other cases in the UAE in the past - Matthew could still be facing an unfair trial on spurious charges.

“Matthew wouldn’t be the first person to be arrested in the UAE on baseless grounds.

“If Matthew has been charged with espionage simply for having conducted academic research into the country’s security services, he should be released immediately. The authorities should also drop all the charges against him.”