UAE Pardons 57 Bangladeshis Imprisoned for Staging Protests
The Spin
Narrative A
Bangladeshis are the third largest expatriate group in the UAE and are expected to show utmost restraint on its soil. It's a given that they know that the oil-rich Gulf country bans unauthorized protests, prohibits speech that can encourage social unrest, and criminalizes defamation. This act of clemency — releasing Bangladeshi nationals who violated the country's laws — exemplifies Al Nahyan's compassionate leadership.
Narrative B
While this decision is welcomed, the Bangladeshi expatriates shouldn't have been detained, convicted, and sentenced for peacefully protesting against their erstwhile government in the first place. The UAE's reaction to a demonstration that had no criminal intent was extreme. The UAE must apologize for arbitrarily detaining the marchers, who neither engaged in violent acts nor used inflammatory language during their protests.
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