Durham University student Matthew Hedges 'overwhelmed' to be home after UAE pardon

Durham University PhD researcher, Matthew Hedges, has returned safely back to London after being jailed in the United Arab Emirates on a spying charge. He was granted a presidential pardon after intensive diplomatic efforts to secure his freedom.

He was welcomed by his wife Daniela and members of his family.

His wife Daniela Tejada has said, “I am so happy to have my Matt home! 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. I hope you can all understand that Matt and I, as well as his family, really need some time to process everything that we have been through. No one should ever have to go through what he did and it will take him time to heal and recover. He is very overwhelmed.

To say we are happy is an understatement.”

Matthew Hedges has said, “I don’t know where to begin with thanking people for securing my release. 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 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.”