DUBAI (Middle East Eye) – The United Arab Emirates has freed Turkish businessman and aid worker Mehmet Ali Ozturk, who had been kept in Emirati custody since February 2018. Ozturk told Middle East Eye on Tuesday that he was released as part of an annual pardon issued by UAE President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. “I’m very happy to be back in my country, and be healthy and with my family,” he said. The decision to pardon Ozturk, who was imprisoned on charges of terrorism in December 2018 while he was visiting Dubai for a food fair, came after Turkey and the UAE decided to repair their relations after nearly 10 years of antagonisms.