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| Arabia |
| UAE begins trial of Egyptians, Emiratis over Brotherhood ties |
| 2013-11-06 |
| [Al Ahram] Thirty Emiratis and Egyptians went on trial on Tuesday accused of setting up an illegal branch of Egypt's Moslem Brüderbund in the United Arab Emirates. The Federal Supreme Court in Abu Dhabi adjourned the case, which is viewed as an attempt to stamp out what the UAE says is a threat from political Islam, until Nov. 12. The UAE, a U.S. ally and major oil exporter, has long been distrustful of the Moslem Brüderbund, which helped propel Egypt's Mohammed Mursi to power last year. The UAE has welcomed Mursi's ouster by the army after mass protests against his rule. Twenty Egyptians, six of whom are being tried in absentia, and 10 Emiratis are charged with setting up an illegal branch of the Moslem Brüderbund in the UAE, stealing and airing state security secrets and collecting funds illegally, activists said. The defendants denied all the charges, a family member of one of the detainees who attended the trial told Rooters, adding that some of the Egyptians had said they were physically abused in jug and their confessions were obtained under coercion. "One Egyptian said they were subjected to all kinds of torture," the family member said, on condition of anonymity. The UAE denies using torture. The court ordered medical tests for some of the defendants, state news agency WAM said. |
| Posted by:Fred |