UK ‘standing up’ for man jailed in UAE
The wife of an academic jailed for life in the United Arab Emirates on a spying allegation said she has won assurances that the Government is “now standing up for one of its citizens” after meeting Jeremy Hunt.
Daniela Tejada condemned the Foreign Office over the handling of the case of 31-year-old PhD student Matthew Hedges, ahead of her meeting with the Foreign Secretary yesterday.
Mr Hunt had threatened the UAE with “serious diplomatic consequences” if Mr Hedges, originally from Exeter, is not freed, saying he has seen “absolutely no evidence” to support the charge.
However, Ms Tejada was critical of ministers, accusing them of putting relations with the Gulf state before her husband’s freedom.
But she left the Foreign Office seeming more confident the Government was working in their favour.
“I really appreciate the Foreign Secretary taking the time to meet me at this crucial point in Matt’s life,” she said, reading from a prepared statement after an hour inside the building.
“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.
“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.”
Mr Hunt is understood to have exchanged “very frank” words with the UAE ambassador in London during a meeting earlier in the day.
Ms Tejada, having landed back at Heathrow Airport in the morning, said the UK had “failed” to take a firm stance over the Durham University student from the start of his ordeal.
“I was under the impression they were putting their interests with the UAE above a British citizen’s rightful freedom and his welfare,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“They were stepping on eggshells instead of taking a firm stance.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock defended the Foreign Office on the show for working “behind the scenes” to support Mr Hedges, with Mr Hunt appealing personally to the Crown Prince on November 12.