Latest news with #WAM
Middle East Eye
an hour ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
UAE top court upholds life terms for 24 convicted in mass trial
The supreme court in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has sentenced 24 people to life in prison after upholding their convictions for "terrorist" links, which had been dismissed following a mass trial criticised by human rights groups. "The Criminal Chamber of the Federal Supreme Court ruled [on Thursday] to partially overturn the judgment issued by the State Security Chamber at the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal and to reconvict 24 defendants," the official Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported on Friday. The 24 were originally convicted in a mass trial of 84 people in July last year - most of whom, according to human rights groups, had already been imprisoned since a similar mass trial of 94 individuals in 2013. "Following yesterday's ruling... the total number of convicted individuals in this case has risen to 83 out of 84 referred to trial," WAM said. Sixty-seven of them have been sentenced to life imprisonment. "The court sentenced the defendants to life imprisonment for collaborating with the 'Terrorist Justice and Dignity Organisation', and providing funds to the Al-Islah," WAM added, referring to a group with ties to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the convictions were based on "a fundamentally unfair mass trial". 'The UAE's second-largest mass trial case has been justified under the guise of countering terrorism, but it's just part of the Emirati government's relentless efforts to prevent the re-emergence of any independent civil society in the country,' said Joey Shea, UAE researcher at HRW. 'Life in prison for nonviolent activism shows Abu Dhabi's utter contempt for both peaceful criticism and the rule of law.' 'UAE 94' The 2013 trial of the so-called "UAE 94", held at the peak of the Arab uprisings, was widely criticised by rights groups as grossly unfair. Lawyers, professors, activists and students who had petitioned the government for democratic reforms were tried for plotting to overthrow it. In March, the UAE rejected the appeals of 53 individuals who were convicted in the July 2024 trial. UAE 'retaliates' against jailed activist Ahmed Mansoor for exposing abuses Read More » The Abu Dhabi Federal Appeals Court overturned the convictions of the other 24 defendants, but the attorney general sought to reverse that decision, arguing it had been "legally flawed". Prominent activist Ahmed Mansoor and academic Nasser bin Ghaith were among those tried last July, HRW said. Bin Ghaith was sentenced to 10 years in 2017 over tweets criticising Egypt, a key ally of the Gulf state. Authorities said he had published 'photos and articles that are offensive to the state's symbols and values, its internal and foreign policies and its relations with an Arab state', understood to refer to Egypt. The UAE prohibits criticism of its rulers and any speech deemed likely to spark social unrest. Emirati courts have convicted dozens of citizens and Egyptian expats of forming clandestine cells, including al-Islah.
Al Etihad
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Al Etihad
UAE Balloon ascends in Russian skies
28 June 2025 13:58 MOSCOW (WAM)The UAE Balloon Team is participating in the third edition of the International Ballooning Festival "Air Brotherhood", which kicked off in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod and continues until July festival sees broad international participation, including teams from Bulgaria, Slovakia, Belarus, and Armenia, alongside several Russian Pilot Abdulaziz Nasser Al Mansoori, head of the UAE Balloon Team, told the Emirates News Agency (WAM) that the team's participation goes beyond the sporting aspect: 'It represents a mission to introduce Emirati culture and highlight the deep-rooted relations between the two friendly countries.'He noted that the team presented free aerial shows in the presence of Russian officials and Mansoori praised the attention given to their participation by the Russian leadership, commending the wide public interaction from the Russian people with the events and nightly shows presented by the team throughout the festival. He explained that this participation in Russia is part of the team's second international tour, which began in Bristol, UK, with the aim of spreading ancient Arab and Islamic culture in various countries worldwide.
Al Etihad
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Etihad
UAE President, President of European Council discuss UAE-EU ties, regional developments
27 June 2025 20:49 ABU DHABI (WAM)UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received a phone call on Friday from His Excellency António Costa, President of the European call explored various aspects of cooperation between the UAE and the European Union and its member states, as well as ways to broaden these ties to deliver mutual benefits and two sides discussed ongoing negotiations towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the UAE and the European Union, highlighting its importance in advancing relations and supporting joint development Highness and the President of the European Council reviewed a number of regional and international issues of mutual concern, with a particular focus on developments in the Middle East. They emphasised the urgent need for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to enable the delivery of sufficient humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of also called for intensified international efforts to advance progress towards a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution. The two sides further underlined the vital importance of diplomacy and dialogue in resolving regional crises and safeguarding regional and global security and stability.
Al Etihad
a day ago
- Politics
- Al Etihad
UAE, Iraqi Presidents discuss bilateral relations, regional developments in phone call
27 June 2025 16:14 ABU DHABI (WAM)President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Friday received a phone call from His Excellency Dr Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid, President of the Republic of the call, the two leaders discussed the latest developments in the Middle East, with both sides underscoring the importance of promoting dialogue and diplomacy as a means to foster peace, safeguard regional security, and fulfil the aspirations of all for development and call also explored opportunities to further strengthen the close ties between the UAE and Iraq, in a way that advances progress and prosperity for both nations and their peoples. His Highness and the Iraqi President exchanged greetings on the occasion of the Hijri New Year, expressing their hopes that it brings peace, security, and stability to the region and the wider world.
Al Etihad
a day ago
- Politics
- Al Etihad
Federal Supreme Court: Life imprisonment for defendants in ‘Justice and Dignity Organisation' case
27 June 2025 15:06 ABU DHABI (WAM)In its session held on Thursday, June 26, the Criminal Chamber of the Federal Supreme Court ruled to partially overturn the judgment issued by the State Security Chamber at the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal and to reconvict 24 defendants in the case known publicly as the "Terrorist Justice and Dignity Organisation" court sentenced the defendants to life imprisonment for collaborating with the "Terrorist Justice and Dignity Organisation," and providing funds to the "Al-Islah Terrorist Organization,", in addition to ordering the confiscation of all funds and items seized in connection with these General, Chancellor Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, had partially appealed the appellate court's ruling that dismissed the criminal case against the defendants for collaborating with the "Terrorist Justice and Dignity Organisation" and financing the "Al-Islah Terrorist Organisation," citing their prior trial in Case No. 79 of 2012 - State Security. The Attorney General argued that the ruling was legally flawed in its application of the law, and should therefore be overturned. He emphasised that the court should have applied the penalties prescribed for the more serious offenses of financing and collaborating with a terrorist organisation, while accounting for any portion of the sentence already served under the previous ruling. The court's decision to dismiss the criminal case for these two offenses based on a final ruling issued in Case No. 79 of 2012 - State Security Crimes - was misplaced. The prior judgement only convicted the defendants of a single crime, namely the establishment and management of the "Al-Islah Organization" as stipulated in Article 180/1 of the Penal Code, and did not address the separate crimes of financing a terrorist organization and collaborating with it, both of which are stipulated in Federal Law No. 1 of 2004 on Combating Terrorist Crimes, and carry independent and more severe Federal Supreme Court reviewed the Attorney General's appeal, and in its session yesterday, ruled to partially overturn the judgment and reconvict 24 defendants, sentencing them to life imprisonment. The court based its decision on the clear legal distinction between the incidents in the two cases, which invalidates any claim that they share the same cause or subject matter. Each incident constitutes an independent criminal act subject to its own punishment under the the previous ruling in Case No. 79 of 2012 - State Security Crimes - does not carry legal weight that would prevent the prosecution of the defendants for the charges of financing and collaboration in the present case. Since the challenged judgment overlooked this principle and dismissed the criminal case based on the prior ruling- despite the difference in cause and subject matter- the judgment erred in its application of the law. This necessitated the partial overturning of these specific charges, limited to the defendants named in the Attorney General's is worth noting that the State Security Chamber of the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal had previously convicted, in Case No. 87 of 2023, known publicly as the "Terrorist Justice and Dignity Organization" case, 53 defendants who were leaders and members of the terrorist Muslim Brotherhood organization, in addition to 6 companies. Sentences ranged from life and temporary imprisonment to fines totaling Dh20 million, while one defendant was acquitted. Following yesterday's ruling by the State Security Chamber of the Federal Supreme Court, the total number of convicted individuals in this case has risen to 83 out of 84 referred to trial.
