The United Arab Emirates on Friday signaled a British academic it jailed for life on spying charges could be freed after his family appealed for clemency in a case that has strained ties between the long-standing allies.
Matthew Hedges, 31, was sentenced Wednesday on charges of spying for the British government, in a move described as deeply disappointing by Prime Minister Theresa May.
"Mr. Hedges' family have made a request for clemency and the government is studying that request," the UAE's ambassador to London, Sulaiman Hamid Almazroui, said.
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