Abu Dhabi: The State Security Division of the Federal Supreme Court on Monday sentenced a teenager to two years in prison on terror-related charges.

Ahmad Yasser Abdul Malek, 18, an Iraqi, was found guilty of promoting the terrorist ideology of Daesh and Al Qaida and publishing rumours and slandering the country and its leaders.

The court, presided over by judge Falah Al Hajeri, also ordered the confiscation of the seized items which were used by the defendant to commit the crimes, including devices, tools and software. It also ordered closure of all blogs and websites used by him to promote the terrorist groups, to insult the country and to defame its leaders.

The court also set June 6 as the date to issue a ruling in a case [involving] mostly Yemenis, charged with setting up and running a clandestine organisation affiliated to the terrorist Yemeni Muslim Brotherhood to overthrow the government and seize power in the UAE.

The court heard lawyers of the defendants, who demanded that they be cleared of all charges for lack of evidence.

Hamdan Al Zeyoudi, a lawyer, said the prosecution did not present any evidence that the man he defends was involved in fund-raising for the terrorist group. “The money confiscated was meant as charity for the poor in Yemen and the defendant is a partner in a real estate company and has nothing to do with any terrorist group.”

Prosecutors told the court that though the defendants knew the organisation had been banned in the UAE, they set up an organisational structure of the terrorist group, including planning, finance, cultural, charity and media committees.

A prosecutor added the group elected a Shura (consultative) council of the organisation’s branch in the UAE, made up of 13 to 15 members, a speaker and deputy speaker. “They met once annually and supervised the Yemeni Muslim Brotherhood in the UAE. They also cooperated with the terrorist Al Islah group, raised nearly Dh2 million and planned to overthrow the government and seize power in the country,” the prosecutor told the court.

The accused are being tried under the UAE’s anti-terrorism law, which incriminates anyone committing acts of terror, whether directly or indirectly.

The prosecutors demanded that the defendants receive the severest punishment.

Convicted terrorists face capital punishment, life imprisonment and fines of up to Dh100 million, according to a federal law to combat terrorism endorsed in 2014.

In another case, six defendantsm — four Arabs, an American and a Belgian, both of Arab origin, charged with joining Al Nusra Front — had their hearing adjourned to June 13 when a ruling will be issued.

Lawyers of the defendants said they had no clue that the group was terrorist and demanded that they be cleared of all charges.

In other cases heard by the court, for two cases involving two Emirati youngsters, charged with promoting ideology of terrorist groups, their lawyers asked the court to clear them of all charges for lack of evidence. The court set May 30 to issue a ruling.

A case involving an American woman charged with insulting the country and its leaders was adjourned to May 30 pending receiving of the medical report of her mental health.

D.A.K., 25, was ordered to be examined to evaluate her mental state at the time of the offence following a request from her lawyer.

In another case, an Emirati defendant, charged with filing a false report to police, had his hearing adjourned to June 6, when a ruling will be issued.

The man reportedly confessed and said he was under the influence of alcohol when he committed the crime.

An Emirati and a man from the Comoros Island, charged with communicating with terrorist groups, had their hearing adjourned to June 6.

A young Pakistani, charged with promoting the ideology of Daesh, had his hearing adjourned to June 6.

J.D.K., 20, was arrested as he had on him a cellphone with a case carrying a ‘Love Daesh’ slogan.