Matthew Hedges to sue UAE over arbitrary detention

Matthew Hedges, who was pardoned on Monday from a life sentence in the UAE, declared intention to sue the United Arab Emirates over his six months of imprisonment on spying charges, his lawyer has said.

The British academic , who was given a presidential pardon five days after being sentenced to life in prison for allegedly spying for the British government, returned home on Tuesday.

"I don't know where to begin with thanking people for securing my release," Hedges said in the statement after arriving at Heathrow airport in London.

Hedges was first arrested in May and spent months in solitary confinement.

Although he was pardoned, the UAE continues to maintain that Hedges was a spy and released a video shortly after his pardoning that appeared to show Hedges confessing.

His lawyer Rodney Dixon QC said that options were being "explored" to take legal action against the UAE.

“We will explore all legal options and remedies to clear [Mr Hedges’] name of this false and unfounded conviction," he said.

“Legal actions in both the UAE, although very limited, and internationally – including before the UN – will be explored.”