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Back in UK, pardoned British academic to ‘sue the UAE’

November 28, 2018 at 9:53 am

British academic Matthew Hedges and his wife Daniela Tejada (Twitter)

British academic Matthew Hedges arrived back in the UK yesterday with reports claiming he is now looking to sue his Emirati captors who accused him of spying and detained him for seven months.

Hedges arrived at London’s Heathrow airport early in the morning on a flight from Dubai, a day after the UAE pardoned him from a life sentence in the spying case.

Rodney Dixon QC, who was hired by Hedges’ wife Daniela Tejeda, told the Telegraph: “Legal action in both the UAE, although very limited, and internationally – including before the UN – will be explored.”

“We will explore all legal options and remedies to clear [Hedges’] name of this false and unfounded conviction.”

Following his return, Hedges thanked his “brave and strong” wife for helping secure his release.

“I don’t know where to begin with thanking people for securing my release … Thank you so much to the British Embassy and the FCO [Britain’s foreign ministry] for their efforts in ensuring I arrived safely back home,” Hedges said in a statement.

READ: UAE links damage the integrity of universities upholding democratic freedoms 

“I could not have done this without Daniela,” he added. “She is so brave and strong, seeing her and my family after this ordeal is the best thing that could have happened. I thank you all once again, this is very surreal.”

Hedges was escorted to the departure gate at Dubai International Airport by three people earlier on yesterday. He stood in the tunnel leading to the aircraft for several minutes before being greeted by what appeared to be two UAE security officials and then boarded the flight.

The UAE pardoned Matthew Hedges on Monday after showing a video of him purportedly confessing to being a member of Britain’s MI6 intelligence agency. Britain has denied he was a spy and welcomed his pardon.

Hedges, a 31-year-old doctoral student at Durham University, had been held in the UAE since 5 May, when he was arrested at Dubai airport after a two-week research visit.