Tulip Siddiq, the Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate, has been sentenced to two years in jail by a court in Bangladesh over allegations of corruption linked to her aunt, the country’s ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Siddiq denies all allegations and says she has not been informed of the charges against her or given access to legal representation. The prosecution is seeking a maximum life sentence.
The verdict came on Monday, after Sheikh Hasina was last month given a death sentence over charges of crimes against humanity relating to last year’s crackdown on student-led protests. The charges in Bangladesh are distinct from the row about Siddiq’s financial links to supporters of Hasina in the UK, which led to her resigning last January as anti-corruption minister.
Siddiq has stated she has not been informed of the charges against her and has not had access to legal representation. The Labour MP continues to deny all allegations and has not commented further on the verdict.
