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UAE charges 'plotters linked to Muslim Brotherhood' | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The United Arab Emirates has ordered 94 people to be tried on charges of trying to seize power. | The United Arab Emirates has ordered 94 people to be tried on charges of trying to seize power. |
The attorney general said the suspects had formed a group that publicly called on people to observe the teachings and values of Islam, but in secret sought to overthrow the state. | |
He said they had links to foreigners, including the Muslim Brotherhood. | He said they had links to foreigners, including the Muslim Brotherhood. |
The UAE has arrested dozens of alleged dissidents, who have said they are victims of false accusations. | The UAE has arrested dozens of alleged dissidents, who have said they are victims of false accusations. |
Political parties and demonstrations are banned in the UAE. | Political parties and demonstrations are banned in the UAE. |
Links denied | Links denied |
A statement from Attorney General Salem Saeed Kubaish said the suspects had used the media and social networking sites "to turn nationals [UAE citizens] against their government". | A statement from Attorney General Salem Saeed Kubaish said the suspects had used the media and social networking sites "to turn nationals [UAE citizens] against their government". |
"They launched, established and ran an organisation seeking to oppose the basic principles of the UAE system of governance and to seize power," it said. | "They launched, established and ran an organisation seeking to oppose the basic principles of the UAE system of governance and to seize power," it said. |
It said the group raised money through property deals and religious contributions. | It said the group raised money through property deals and religious contributions. |
Last year authorities detained more than 60 civil society activists, many connected to al-Islah, an Islamist group alleged by the government to have links to the Muslim Brotherhood. | |
Al-Islah says it favours peaceful reform and denies links to the brotherhood. | |
The crackdown has triggered complaints from human rights groups. | |
The authorities have been accused of deporting and harassing human rights defenders, denying legal assistance to political detainees, and intimidating and deporting lawyers seeking to assist detainees. | The authorities have been accused of deporting and harassing human rights defenders, denying legal assistance to political detainees, and intimidating and deporting lawyers seeking to assist detainees. |
An Emirati human rights activist who asked not to be named told the BBC: "This is a continuation of repression here and in the region against citizens calling peacefully for political reform and more freedom." | |
He said that the 94 had been denied proper access to lawyers and mistreated while in custody. Fourteen of those being sent to trial are women, relatives of men previously arrested. | |
The activist said what he called the repression of the people would "not succeed in the long run". | |
"It will scare people for some time but you cannot scare all of the people all of the time." | |
The referral of the 94 to the UAE's highest court means that the court's decision is final and there is no right of appeal. | |
The UAE comprises seven sheikdoms run by ruling families. | The UAE comprises seven sheikdoms run by ruling families. |
Several of its Gulf neighbours - including Bahrain, Yemen, Oman and Saudi Arabia - were rocked by pro-democracy protests inspired by the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt in 2011. | Several of its Gulf neighbours - including Bahrain, Yemen, Oman and Saudi Arabia - were rocked by pro-democracy protests inspired by the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt in 2011. |