Abu Dhabi: Defence lawyers demanded that three Emiratis and a Comoros citizen, charged with trying to build explosives and joining Al Qaida-linked groups, be released on bail on grounds that they will not run away and for health and education reasons.
The lawyers told the state security division of the Federal Supreme Court on Tuesday the men should be acquitted for lack of evidence.
The court, presided over by Justice Mohammad Al Jarrah Al Tunaiji, decided to adjourn the hearing until September 28, when defence witnesses will be heard.
The men are among a total of 15 accused of membership of Al Qaida’s affiliates of Al Nusrah Front in Syria and another militant Syrian opposition group, Ahrar Al Sham, and of collecting funds for these. The total number of defendants on trial at the Federal Supreme Court are nine Emiratis, four from the Comoros islands off east Africa and two Syrians.
Four other Emiratis are being tried in absentia.
All 11 who appeared in court denied the charges. A defence lawyer asked for four witnesses to be called to give evidence.
The explosive device alleged to have been assembled by the accused had leaked toxic chemical fumes that affected the environment, according to the court documents.
The prosecutors said the accused had travelled to Syria to make contact with armed groups, and had collected money, devices and equipment for use in attacks on civilians in Syria.
The men were also charged with recruiting members and raising money for the two terrorist groups as well as making explosives and possessing firearms without licences, said prosecutor Saqr Saif, who read out the indictment.
They were accused of establishing a website and a Facebook page to publish the terrorist thoughts of Al Qaida.
A new law to combat terrorism endorsed last month established “terrorist” capital offences which result in the death of a victim, including attacks on a head of state or his family or a representative or officer of a state; coerced recruitment of individuals into a “terrorist” organisation; hijacking; hostage-taking; infringement of diplomatic or consular premises in committing a “terrorist” act; use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and assaulting security forces.
Convicted terrorists will face capital punishment, life imprisonment and fines of up to Dh100 million, according to the new legislation.
According to prosecutors, the defendants are also being tried under the UAE’s cybercrime law, which stipulates a jail term of not less than five years and a Dh1 million fine for anyone creating or running an electronic site to publish information online or through any information technology means to promote any terrorist groups. They are also tried under environment protection laws.
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The state security division of the Federal Supreme Court also heard the case of another Emirati, charged with attempting to revive Al Islah organisation linked to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.
The defendant’s father was convicted and jailed for 10 years last year for establishing and running an organisation seeking to oppose the basic principles of the UAE system of governance and to seize power.
The more than 90 men were convicted of trying to turn public opinion against the leadership by fabricating reasons for government action taken against them.
The court adjourned the case to October 14, on request from the defence lawyers.
