A court in Bangladesh has handed down a two-year prison sentence to Tulip Siddiq, a serving British Member of Parliament, in a case tried in her absence. The Labour MP for Hampstead and Kilburn was convicted on charges of defamation.
The Details of the Legal Case
The verdict was delivered by a judicial magistrate court in Dhaka, Bangladesh's capital, on 1 December 2025. The case stemmed from comments Siddiq made during a television interview in 2019. In that interview, she reportedly discussed the circumstances surrounding the death of her grandfather, Abdul Alim, a former member of parliament for the ruling Awami League party.
The case was initiated by a plaintiff named Shahidul Islam, who alleged that Siddiq's remarks were defamatory. The court found the MP guilty under section 500 of Bangladesh's penal code, which deals with defamation. As the trial was conducted in absentia, Siddiq was not present in the courtroom to hear the judgment.
Political Repercussions and Reactions
The sentencing of a sitting UK parliamentarian by a foreign court is a highly unusual event with significant diplomatic and political implications. Tulip Siddiq is a shadow treasury minister and a prominent figure within the Labour Party. Her constituency in north London is home to a large Bangladeshi diaspora community.
While a detailed official statement from Siddiq or the Labour Party leadership is awaited, initial reports suggest the MP is likely to challenge the verdict. Legal experts note that the sentence raises complex questions about jurisdiction and international law, given that the comments were made outside of Bangladesh.
Background and Broader Context
Tulip Siddiq was born in London but spent part of her childhood in Bangladesh. She is the niece of Sheikh Hasina, the current Prime Minister of Bangladesh. This familial connection to the country's political elite adds a layer of complexity to the case, which some observers may view through a lens of internal political dynamics.
The case highlights the increasingly global nature of legal actions concerning speech and defamation. It also underscores the challenges faced by politicians with transnational ties, who may be subject to legal proceedings in more than one country based on their public statements.
The next steps are uncertain. Siddiq could seek to appeal the verdict through the Bangladeshi legal system. The UK Foreign Office is typically consulted in such matters involving British citizens sentenced abroad, though the specifics of their involvement remain unclear at this early stage.
