A British academic who was accused of spying for the UK government in the United Arab Emirates after travelling to Dubai to conduct research has been sentenced to life in jail. Matthew Hedges, 31, has been in a UAE prison for more than six months. The Durham University student, who went to the country to research his PhD thesis, was handed the sentence at an Abu Dhabi court in a hearing that lasted less than five minutes, with no lawyer present.

Hedges was detained in May at Dubai airport as he was leaving the country, and was held in solitary confinement for five months. The UAE attorney general, Hamad al-Shamsi, said Hedges was accused of “spying for a foreign country, jeopardising the military, political and economic security of the state”. Hedges denies the charges, and maintains that he was in the country to research the impact of the Arab spring on the UAE’s foreign policy.Hedges’ wife, Daniela Tejada, who was in court, said: “I am in complete shock and I don’t know what to do. Matthew is innocent. The Foreign Office know this and have made it clear to the UAE authorities that Matthew is not a spy for them.(theguardian)…[+]