Briton jailed for spying in the UAE
Nov 22nd 2018, 11:43 am
#16
Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Not in Paris
Posts: 18,192
Re: Briton jailed for spying in the UAE
I would say those are exactly the type of people our security services would hire: intelligent*, behind a respectable profession and above all, which no-one would ever suspect of being a spy. Remember, the likes of M16 work behind extreme secrecy and there's not a cat in hell's chance, MI6 (or our Gov't) would ever come out and say "yes, he was working as a spy, now pls free him" as that would go against the grain in one of their main aims: keeping their operations secret (even failed operations).
The UAE - for all its draconian laws - doesn't just jail people for life willy nilly despite what you may have read in the Daily Mail. He appears to have been caught red handed with all the evidence on him when stopped at the airport. He definitely wasn't caught with just a few photos of sensitive sites, that is 100% certain.
Gulf News is usually fairly accurate in its reporting and I've no reason to doubt they're telling porkies in this case:
https://gulfnews.com/uae/briton-31-g....1542799607314
*obviously this chap wasn't intelligent enough to NOT get caught in his nefarious activities. Perhaps University standards are slipping these days? lol
The UAE - for all its draconian laws - doesn't just jail people for life willy nilly despite what you may have read in the Daily Mail. He appears to have been caught red handed with all the evidence on him when stopped at the airport. He definitely wasn't caught with just a few photos of sensitive sites, that is 100% certain.
Gulf News is usually fairly accurate in its reporting and I've no reason to doubt they're telling porkies in this case:
https://gulfnews.com/uae/briton-31-g....1542799607314
*obviously this chap wasn't intelligent enough to NOT get caught in his nefarious activities. Perhaps University standards are slipping these days? lol
Nov 22nd 2018, 11:45 am
#17
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2011
Location: Abu Scabby, UAE
Posts: 264
Re: Briton jailed for spying in the UAE
Gulf News isn't telling us much. Nor is any alleged confession much. We all know they sign the confession in Arabic without knowing what it's actually saying.
I don't think it's anything more than some Muslim Brotherhood sympathising man asking the wrong questions of the wrong people. There are highly sensitive parties and figures in the UAE that the government keeps a very close watch on and this is their way of sending out warning signals to others.
I don't think it's anything more than some Muslim Brotherhood sympathising man asking the wrong questions of the wrong people. There are highly sensitive parties and figures in the UAE that the government keeps a very close watch on and this is their way of sending out warning signals to others.
Nov 22nd 2018, 5:15 pm
#18
Lost in BE Cyberspace
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Re: Briton jailed for spying in the UAE
What use would he be to anyone ? Does not even speak Arabic !
Nov 23rd 2018, 8:58 am
#20
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Re: Briton jailed for spying in the UAE
UK presses are saying the UAE is seeking an amicable outcome for Matthew Hedges.
This pretty much confirms that Hedges was just a private individual asking stupid questions of politically sensitive characters in the UAE in the name of whatever research he was doing and the authorities bitch-slapped him as a warning to others. He'll be back home in time for Christmas pudding.
This pretty much confirms that Hedges was just a private individual asking stupid questions of politically sensitive characters in the UAE in the name of whatever research he was doing and the authorities bitch-slapped him as a warning to others. He'll be back home in time for Christmas pudding.
Nov 23rd 2018, 10:47 am
#21
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Location: Abu Dhabi via Barcelona
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Re: Briton jailed for spying in the UAE
UK presses are saying the UAE is seeking an amicable outcome for Matthew Hedges.
This pretty much confirms that Hedges was just a private individual asking stupid questions of politically sensitive characters in the UAE in the name of whatever research he was doing and the authorities bitch-slapped him as a warning to others. He'll be back home in time for Christmas pudding.
This pretty much confirms that Hedges was just a private individual asking stupid questions of politically sensitive characters in the UAE in the name of whatever research he was doing and the authorities bitch-slapped him as a warning to others. He'll be back home in time for Christmas pudding.
My guess is pardoned for either Martyr's/anniversary day holiday or next Eid. I'd guess before Christmas.
Especially with the BBC airing this on Dec 6th.
Especially with the BBC airing this on Dec 6th.
Told you.
Nov 23rd 2018, 5:44 pm
#22
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Re: Briton jailed for spying in the UAE
The charges said "working for a foreign power". maybe it was Albania or Monaco !
Nov 24th 2018, 2:06 pm
#23
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Joined: Jul 2009
Location: West Kensington, Dubai
Posts: 1,157
Re: Briton jailed for spying in the UAE
Calm down everyone. I’ve met this guy quite a few times in Dubai and to say that he’s naive is a serious understatement.
In these days of cyber warfare, I guarantee no spy from any country wanders round asking random questions. I don’t know the details, but clearly this fella has overstepped his brief/acted stupidly/got caught in a bigger issue.
In response to the the question of someone doing the same in UK? Nobody gets anywhere near a sensitive site in a developed country without very serious background checks. Go drive up near GCHQ without an appointment and see how close you get.
Based uoon the reluctance to talk by the FCO and the UAEs conciliatory remarks, he’ll be home for Xmas.
Nothing to see here, move along.
P.s if it was serious detained in Dubai would be involved :P
In these days of cyber warfare, I guarantee no spy from any country wanders round asking random questions. I don’t know the details, but clearly this fella has overstepped his brief/acted stupidly/got caught in a bigger issue.
In response to the the question of someone doing the same in UK? Nobody gets anywhere near a sensitive site in a developed country without very serious background checks. Go drive up near GCHQ without an appointment and see how close you get.
Based uoon the reluctance to talk by the FCO and the UAEs conciliatory remarks, he’ll be home for Xmas.
Nothing to see here, move along.
P.s if it was serious detained in Dubai would be involved :P
Nov 25th 2018, 3:58 am
#24
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Disneyland, Dubai
Posts: 15,887
Re: Briton jailed for spying in the UAE
Calm down everyone. I’ve met this guy quite a few times in Dubai and to say that he’s naive is a serious understatement.
In these days of cyber warfare, I guarantee no spy from any country wanders round asking random questions. I don’t know the details, but clearly this fella has overstepped his brief/acted stupidly/got caught in a bigger issue.
In response to the the question of someone doing the same in UK? Nobody gets anywhere near a sensitive site in a developed country without very serious background checks. Go drive up near GCHQ without an appointment and see how close you get.
Based uoon the reluctance to talk by the FCO and the UAEs conciliatory remarks, he’ll be home for Xmas.
Nothing to see here, move along.
P.s if it was serious detained in Dubai would be involved :P
In these days of cyber warfare, I guarantee no spy from any country wanders round asking random questions. I don’t know the details, but clearly this fella has overstepped his brief/acted stupidly/got caught in a bigger issue.
In response to the the question of someone doing the same in UK? Nobody gets anywhere near a sensitive site in a developed country without very serious background checks. Go drive up near GCHQ without an appointment and see how close you get.
Based uoon the reluctance to talk by the FCO and the UAEs conciliatory remarks, he’ll be home for Xmas.
Nothing to see here, move along.
P.s if it was serious detained in Dubai would be involved :P
Nov 25th 2018, 3:35 pm
#25
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Joined: Oct 2015
Location: Abu Dhabi via Barcelona
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Nov 26th 2018, 4:30 am
#27
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Location: Disneyland, Dubai
Posts: 15,887
Re: Briton jailed for spying in the UAE
zero. But there’s some posters on here who always seem to be on first name terms with everyone that end up in the daily mail.
I reckon he will be pardoned in Martyrs day and, knowing that, the life sentence was handed out to send a message.
I reckon he will be pardoned in Martyrs day and, knowing that, the life sentence was handed out to send a message.
Nov 26th 2018, 4:43 am
#28
Account Closed
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 0
Re: Briton jailed for spying in the UAE
You know me on first name terms, that's miles better.
Nov 26th 2018, 5:01 am
#29
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Nov 26th 2018, 7:24 am
#30
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Location: Abu Dhabi via Barcelona
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Re: Briton jailed for spying in the UAE
He's been released with immediate effect for UAE National Day.
Just like I said, funny that eh.
Just like I said, funny that eh.
