A Maltese woman has called on the Maltese government to take action after her best friend's husband was sentenced to life in prison in the United Arab Emirates in a disturbing case which has sparked worldwide anger.

"Anyone could end up in Matthew's shoes, it's shocking," said Marta Vella, a London-based Maltese actress, insisting the world cannot ignore the fact that a man had been condemned to life in prison on trumped-up charges. 

Happier days... Daniela Tejada (left) and Marta Vella (right).

A UAE court sentenced British academic Mr Hedges to life in prison on charges of spying for the British government on Wednesday, in a move Britain said would have serious diplomatic consequences for relations between the old allies.

The United Arab Emirates public prosecutor said the sentence was handed down on the 31-year-old "after the accused confessed before the court to the charges brought against him".

The hearing lasted less than five minutes and Hedge's lawyer was not present, his family said. He was made to sign a confession statement in Arabic that he did not understand and experienced deterioration in both his physical and mental health during his detention.

"It could happen to any of us, what's happened is terrible. We really can't believe it," Ms Vella told Times of Malta, as she urged the Maltese government and MEPs to put pressure on the UAE authorities to release an innocent man.

Daniela Tejada talks to the media outside the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

Hedges, a doctoral student at Durham University, has been held in the UAE since May 5, when he was arrested at Dubai International Airport after a two-week research visit where he was studying the country's security strategy.

The evidence presented against him consisted of notes from his dissertation research, his family said.

"I am in complete shock and I don't know what to do. Matthew is innocent," said Hedges' wife, Daniela Tejada, who was present in the Abu Dhabi courtroom and said he was shaking when he heard the verdict.

Meanwhile, Marta Vella has set up an online petition calling for Hedges's release.

Daniela Tejada and Matthew Hedges.