Hearings of Brotherhood case transparent: EHRA

The Emirates Human Rights Association (EHRA) said that the trial of the Muslim Brotherhood cell, which concluded on January 21, was conducted in a transparent, open atmosphere.

The Federal Supreme Court sentenced the 30 accused  to jail terms ranging from three months to five years. The verdicts were issued in the presence of 24 accused. Six others were sentenced in absentia.

The EHRA said in a statement following the verdict that it had followed the hearings of the trial since it was started and believed that they were transparent and open, noting that the accused had defended themselves in person or through their lawyers.

The EHRA noted that representatives of the Egyptian embassy in the UAE and the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate had attended the hearings.

''We in the EHRA are confident that the conscience of the judge, his integrity and adherence to justice took the priority in handing out these verdicts," the statement said.

During a press conference held this evening, EHRA officials said that ties between the UAE and Egypt were strong and solid, denying any connection between the branding, in Egypt, of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation and the judgment on the Muslim Brotherhood cell today.

Khaled Jasim Al Hosani, EHRA Secretary General, and EHRA members Ali Salem Al Kaabi and Jamila Rashid Al Hamli attended the press conference.

The EHRA indicated that it had set up a committee to consider and follow up the humanitarian aspect as guaranteed by the state laws and that it was sure that all suspects were granted their rights according to testimonies of representatives public interest organisations, law firms, lawyers and relatives of the defendants.

The EHRA said that the arrests of the defendants had been made on the basis of warrants obtained from the prosecution and that no complaints of mistreatment were registered during the period in preventive custody.

Furthermore, the EHRA had asked the defendants to give their opinion on their lawyers. They had said nothing and approved them, the EHRA said.

The EHRA noted that the verdict included the confiscation of the cell's equipment seized in connection to the case, but did not affect the funds of the defendants who later received all their rights.

The EHRA warned against the London-based Emirates Centre for Human Rights, which is run by one of the accused who was convicted in absentia in the secret Muslim Brotherhood organisaition.

It said that it will make a legal claim, through the British Parliament, against the Centre for defaming the UAE.

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