Demand for 'most severe' punishment

The State Security Chamber of the Federal Supreme Court on Monday heard pleas of the prosecutors in the case of the Yemeni Muslim Brotherhood in the UAE in which 15 Yemenis and four Emiratis were accused of establishing a branch of the group in the UAE.

The public prosecutor addressed the court for more than an hour explaining charges against each one of the accused, demanding to the court that it hand down the most severe punishment to them.

The first 13 defendants faced counts of raising funds and donations without obtaining permission from competent authority while 16th to 19th defendants were charged with joining an illegitimate, secret organisation in the UAE which works against the basic principles of the governance in the state with the aim of seizing the power. Defendants 14th to 19th – with the exception of the 15th – were accused of learning about the crime but failing to inform the authorities concerned.

The court looked into the case of three Arab nationals who were accused of supplying two terrorist organisations, Nusra Front and Ahrar ash-Sham, with communications equipment and funds to fulfil their objectives. The court was adjourned to May 30.

In another case, the judge decided to postpone to May 16, hearings in the case of a US woman whom the public prosecutor accused of uttering obscene words in a public place.

The judge, at the request of the defendant's lawyer, referred her to the Sheikh Khalifa Medical City to check her psychological condition.

The hearings were attended by representatives of the media and civil society organisations.

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