The Ministry of Justice issued the following statement as regards the secret illegal organisation case in the UAE.
"The State Security Department of the Supreme Federal Court, presided over by Chief Justice Falah Al Hajiri, resumed its sessions, this morning, Tuesday 14 May 2013, to hear the defense of the accused individuals in the secret illegal organisation case.
Today's session at the headquarters of the court in Abu Dhabi was attended by 73 male defendants and 12 female defendants, 121 relatives of the defendants, 16 representatives of the media, 6 members of civil society organisations, including four from the Emirates Human Rights Association, one from the UAE Jurists Association and one from the UAE Sociological Association.
Six defense lawyers and five public prosecutors also attended the session.
The court decided to resume its sessions on Monday and Tuesday, 20 and 21 May, to hear the pleadings of the rest of the defendants and the pleadings of the defence."