Wife’s plea for arrested student

APPEAL: Daniela and Matt A BRITISH researcher has been detained “without explanation” in the UAE for five months.

Matthew Hedges, 31, a PhD student at Durham University, was looking into the country’s foreign policy and security strategy when he was reportedly arrested in May.

He has been held without charge ever since and his rights are being “violated on a daily basis”, his wife Daniela Tejada said.

She added: “We cannot believe this has happened. We have been patient and done everything that has been advised, supposedly in Matt’s best interest, but we can no longer go on like this.

“Matt is a brilliant researcher, a man of integrity, and he has been punished in the most unjust and unfair way.

“His rights are violated on a daily basis and I am shocked that more has not been done to get him out.”

Mr Hedges was in court in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. His case was adjourned until October 24.

A Foreign Office spokesman said it is supporting Mr Hedges and remains in close contact with the authorities.

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