Terrorists in UAE to be 'penalised with death penalty or life imprisonment'

Abu Dhabi: The UAE Government has fast-tracked legislation including tough measures against those found to be involved in terror acts, financing terror or campaigning for terrorist groups.

Under the draft law offenders will face the death sentence, life imprisonment or fines of up to Dh100 million.

The Federal National Council is due to be called from its almost four-month summer break to attend a special session later this month to review the draft law, which establishes “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 people into a “terrorist” organisation; hijacking; hostage-taking; infringement on diplomatic or consular premises in committing a “terrorist” act; use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and assaults on security forces.

Under the 70-article bill being discussed by the legislative and legal affairs committee of the House, convicted terrorists will face the death penalty, life imprisonment and fines of up to Dh100 million.

The draft law will also authorise the Cabinet to establish lists of designated terrorist organisations and persons.

The Cabinet will also establish counselling centres where terrorists will receive intensive religious and welfare counselling in jail in a programme targeted against future threats posed by those holding extremist views, according to the draft law, a copy of which has been obtained by Gulf News.

Sources said the UAE, a signatory to 13 international treaties on terrorism, is revising its counter-terrorism law, issued in 2004, to better combat evolving threats.

In late April the FNC passed a draft law to fight money laundering and terrorist financing.

The bill strengthens the integrity of the country’s financial strengths in line with the International Standards on Combating Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation — the FATF Recommendations, according to members of the House.

Under the legislation on combating terrorism offences, a criminal case involving terrorist suspects, shall neither expire nor the court ruling imposed be dropped by prescription.

“Setting up, running or leading a terrorist organisation will be penalised with the death penalty or life imprisonment and the court shall order the organisation to be disbanded and its offices closed,” the draft law states.

The same punishment will be handed down to people convicted of using or damaging a nuclear, chemical or biological facility with “terrorist” intent.

Every legal person whose representatives, managers or agents commit or contribute in the commission of any of the terrorist offences, provided in this draft law, will receive a fine ranging between Dh1 million and Dh100 million.

The pre-charge detention period issued by the public prosecutor will be extended to six months, which could be further extended by a court.

It has been suggested that a committee called “The National Committee for Combatting Terrorism” be established, a decision regarding this will be made by the Cabinet.

The draft law also suggests that offenders who take the initiative to pass on what they know to the judicial or administrative authorities be pardoned if their information leads to the crime being uncovered or the arrest of one of the remaining offenders.