Spy-accused Brit reunited with wife
A BRITISH academic who was pardoned days after being given a life sentence for spying in the United Arab Emirates is back in the arms of his wife.
Matthew Hedges was freed on Monday after a high-profile battle with the Gulf state ally, but officials persisted in calling him an MI6 spy – a claim denied by family and colleagues.
Mr Hedges, from Exeter, appeared in a picture on social media, kissing his smiling wife, Daniela Tejada, after landing back in the UK.
Ms Tejada posted the picture on Twitter and wrote: “Thanks for collectively helping me to bring back my husband.
“We’ve been through hell and back and would really appreciate having some space to catch up on much-needed rest.
“Kindly asking you to please respect our privacy and our families’ – they too deserve your consideration.”
In his first statement issued after landing at Heathrow Airport yesterday, Mr Hedges praised his “brave and strong” wife, saying “seeing her and my family after this ordeal is the best thing that could have happened”.
Mr Hedges, a PhD student at Durham University, was sentenced last Wednesday after being arrested at Dubai Airport as he tried to leave on May 5.
“I don’t know where to begin with thanking people for securing my release,” Mr Hedges said. “I have not seen or read much of what has been written over the past few days but Dani tells me the support has been incredible.
“Thank you so much to the British Embassy and the FCO (Foreign Office) for their efforts in ensuring I arrived safely back home.
“I could not have done this without Daniela, I hear her face is everywhere!
“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.”
His wife mounted a campaign to free the 31-year-old and Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt personally discussed the case with UAE leaders.
“I am so happy to have my Matt home,” said Ms Tejada.
“Thank you once again for the overwhelming support we have received, especially from the embassy in the UAE and the Foreign Office in ensuring that Matt was safely returned home. We are overjoyed and exhausted!
“Thank you once again as well to the international community and the international media, who were very supportive from the beginning.”
Earlier, she said news of the pardon brought her family’s “nightmare” to an end, and Mr Hunt described it as “fantastic”.
At a news conference in Abu Dhabi on Monday, officials showed a video of Mr Hedges describing himself as a captain in MI6 during what appeared to be a court hearing.
However, MI6 – the foreign intelligence service – is not known to use military ranks.