Uae Spy Row: Hopes Of Matthew Hedges Case Resolution bbc.com

There are signs Foreign Office staff may be close to resolving the case of UK academic Matthew Hedges, convicted of spying in the United Arab Emirates.

The UAE's ambassador in London is due to issue a statement at 10:00 GMT, amid speculation he will talk about progress in the 31-year-old's situation.

On Thursday, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he had "constructive" talks with his opposite number in the UAE.
Things looking a bit more positive for Matthew Hedges this evening. Foreign office sources say they regard earlier UAE FM statement as “olive branch.” “We wanted to respond in kind.”

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Today I saw Matthew Hedges' wifeMatthew Hedges & UAE Ambassador. I've just had a constructive conversation with UAE FM Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed. I believe & trust he's working hard to resolve the situation asap. We've a close partnership with UAE which will help us take things forward

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11:41 PM – Nov 22, 2018
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On Thursday evening, Mr Hunt tweeted he had "just had a constructive conversation with UAE FM [Foreign Minister] Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed".

"I believe and trust he's working hard to resolve the situation asap," he posted.

"We've a close partnership with UAE which will help us take things forward."

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Jeremy Hunt
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@Jeremy_Hunt
Today I saw Matthew Hedges' wife Daniela & UAE Ambassador. I've just had a constructive conversation with UAE FM Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed. I believe & trust he's working hard to resolve the situation asap. We've a close partnership with UAE which will help us take things forward

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11:27 PM – Nov 22, 2018
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Mr Hunt met Ms Tejada in the wake of her criticism the UK government for failing to take a firm enough stance with the UAE.

However, speaking afterwards, Ms Tejada thanked the foreign secretary for "taking the time" to meet her at "this crucial point".

"He has assured me that he and his team are doing everything in their power to get Matt free and return him home to me," she said.

"This is not a fight I can win alone and I thank the Foreign Office and the British public for now standing up for one of their citizens."

Media captionDaniela Tejada says she "can't win this fight alone"
Political scientist Mr Hedges, who is originally from Exeter, had been in the country conducting research on the UAE's security strategy for his PhD thesis when he was arrested at Dubai airport.

Prosecutors said he had confessed to spying.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the country was "determined to protect its important strategic relationship with a key ally" and added it hoped both sides could find "an amicable solution" to the case.

The country's Attorney General Dr Hamad Saif Al Shamsi previously said Mr Hedges had the right to appeal.

Abdulla Al Naqbi, head of the ministry's Department of Legal Affairs, had said that "families also have the right to appeal for presidential clemency on behalf of convicted relatives".

In a statement, Mr Al Naqbi said "compelling and powerful evidence was presented in court" and that this included Mr Hedges' own confession.

Mr Hedges was offered, and accepted, the services of a court-appointed lawyer and was also provided with translators, he said.

"It is not true that he was asked to sign documents he did not understand," Mr Al Naqbi said.