Emirati fisherman jailed for four months by Iranian court

Umm Al Quwain: An Emirati fisherman and three Indian crew men are being detained by authorities in Iran for allegedly trespassing into Iranian territorial waters.

Sultan Mohammad Bin Hussain, 23, an Umm Al Quwain resident, was detained with three Indian crew men on August 10, the same day the four men left Umm Al Quwain for an expedition in their twin-engined fishing vessel, according to family members.

They were detained by an Iranian patrol boat and taken to Abu Musa Island and then to Bandar Abbas, Mohammad Bin Hussain, Bin Hussain’s father, told Gulf News on Tuesday.

Their cell phones and belongings were taken from them, he said.

Bin Hussain said he is speaking with UAE authorities to help bring his son back.

His son was allowed to make a call on Monday from the court. His son said he was told that the court had sentenced him to four months in jail on charges of trespassing into Iran’s territorial waters. The father said the cell phone was again taken away from his son and switched off.

The tone of his son’s voice was sad and he was frightened.

The son said he had denied charges of trespassing and asked his father to help him appeal the conviction.

Bin Hussain said that his son was detained by an Iranian boat at a distance of 30km from Umm Al Quwain coast.

“My son did not go far in the water for fishing though there is a lot of fish in the deep, cold water. My son used to catch fish in the nearby water,” Bin Hussain said. “My son used to go out to sea at dawn and return home at 10am, but that day, he did not come home as usual. I tried to contact him, but his phone was switched off. Then, we reported the matter to Umm Al Quwain authorities. After two days, a man came and informed me that my son has been detained.”

Bin Hussain said that his son is married and has two daughters.

Recently, the UAE’s Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Protection Authority, the coast guard, warned fishermen about piracy and individual terrorists reported to be plying in the deep sea in the Gulf.

Fishermen were advised that unknown persons sometimes board fishing boats, detain the fishermen and then take the boats to unknown destinations.

A circular was distributed to all fishermen associations in the UAE asking them to be cautious while in the sea and to immediately report any suspicious fishing boats or any means of marine transport.

The Iranian authorities earlier stopped several Emirati boats on alleged charges of breaching Iranian territorial waters.

Detainees can remain in Iranian custody for up to 60 days, before being fined between Dh25,000 and Dh150,000.