Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Federal Appeal Court on Wednesday sentenced three Arabs to 15 years in jail and fined each of them Dh500,000 on terrorism charges.

The three convicts, two Egyptians and a Saudi citizen, were found guilty of promoting the ideology of terrorist organisations and breaking the UAE Cybercrime Law No. 5 of 2012.

The men will also be deported after serving their jail terms. The court also ordered the confiscation of their laptops and cell phones and shutting down of their social media accounts.

The men were also found guilty of harming the UAE’s relations with a neighbouring country.

The court also heard a number of terror-related cases. In one such case, the prosecutors charged 12 men with espionage.

A prosecution witness told the court an Arab intelligence officer recruited a number of bankers and employees in a government department to obtain sensitive information about leading officials and businessmen.

The witness said in his testimony that each spy was paid Dh100,000 and a Mercedes car for passing on the details of bank accounts and properties of the high-ranking officials.

The court adjourned the case to May 9 to hear more witnesses.

In a separate case, the court heard the lawyers of nine Arabs, charged with promoting the ideology of terrorist organisations, including Daesh, and insulting UAE leaders on a social media account.

Their lawyers, Hassan Al Reyami and Mohammad Al Azazi, demanded that the defendants be cleared for a lack of evidence and wrong investigation procedures.

The court fixed May 9 for pronouncing the verdict.

In another case, a citizen of a Gulf country charged with joining Al Nusra Front terrorist organisation and training alongside their elements in Syria had his hearing adjourned to May 9.

The defendant told the court that he had turned himself in to the authorities and informed them of his wrongdoings. He demanded that he be cleared of all charges.

Another citizen of a Gulf country, charged with insulting the UAE’s leaders and harming relations with a sisterly country, had his hearing adjourned to May 9.

Although the defendant told the court that he would represent himself and required no lawyer, the court adjourned the hearing to May 9 to assign a lawyer to him. </s> Jail term up to 15 years and $136,000 fines could be handed out to offenders, attorney general statement says.

The United Arab Emirates has banned people from publishing expressions of sympathy towards Qatar and will punish offenders with a jail term of up to 15 years, the UAE-based newspaper Gulf News and pan-Arab channel Al-Arabiya reported.

In a statement released on Wednesday, UAE's Attorney-General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi said sympathising with Qatar was a cybercrime punishable by law.

"Strict and firm action will be taken against anyone who shows sympathy or any form of bias towards Qatar, or against anyone who objects to the position of the United Arab Emirates, whether it be through the means of social media, or any type of written, visual or verbal form," Gulf News quoted Shamsi as saying in the statement.

The Federal Public Prosecution also announced that according to the Federal Penal Code and the Federal law decree on Combating Information Technology Crimes, anyone who threaten the interests, national unity and stability of the UAE will face a jail term from three to 15 years, and a fine not less than AED 500,000 ($136,000).

Since the diplomatic row erupted, slogans against and in support of Qatar have been among the top topics discussed on Twitter in Arabic, which is a hugely popular medium of expression in the Arab world, particularly in Saudi Arabia.

Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates severed diplomatic ties and transport links with Qatar on Monday, accusing it of supporting "extremism".

The dispute between Qatar and the Arab countries escalated after a recent hack of Qatar's state-run news agency.

On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir told reporters in Paris that Qatar must end its support for the Palestinian group Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood before ties with other Arab Gulf states could be restored.

Hamas said in a statement that al-Jubeir's remarks "constitute a shock for our Palestinian people and the Arab and Islamic nations".

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel accused US President Donald Trump of stirring up conflicts in the Middle East and risking a new arms race.

The dispute comes less than a month after Trump visited Saudi Arabia and called for Muslim nations to unite against "extremism".

Qatar said there was "no legitimate justification" for several nations cutting diplomatic ties and the decision was in "violation of its sovereignty". </s> A Durham University student has been sentenced to life in prison in the United Arab Emirates for spying.

Matthew Hedges, 31, had been held in solitary confinement since he was arrested on May 5 at Dubai Airport.

He appeared at the Federal Court of Appeal in October accused of spying for the British Government and was subsequently released on bail.

His passport was seized and he was ordered to remain in the UAE until Wednesday's court appearance.

And he has been sentenced to life in prison. A life sentence includes a maximum of 25 years in jail and is followed by deportation

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he was "deeply shocked and disappointed by the verdict."

A family spokeswoman, Nikita Bernardi, told press agency AFP after the hearing: "We can confirm that he was sentenced to life in prison. The hearing lasted less than five minutes, and his lawyer was not present."

Mr Hedges completed a Masters degree in Middle East Studies at Exeter, and began working on his PhD at Durham University in 2013.

In a statement in Arabic, the court said: "The Federal Appeals Court of Abu Dhabi sentenced Matthew Hedges, 31, to life imprisonment after being convicted of spying on the UAE and providing sensitive security and intelligence information to third parties.

"The court also ruled that he would be deported from the country after the execution of the sentence and would be charged the costs of the legal case.

"The court ordered the confiscation of all his equipment, devices, research and studies.

"The convicted person has the right to challenge the ruling with the State Security Department of the Federal Supreme Court within a maximum period of 30 days."

The latest court appearance was the third for the academic since his arrest almost seven months ago.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Middle East minister Alistair Burt have both travelled to the UAE since Mr Hedges was detained to make representations on his behalf.

His family said prior to his release on bail that they had only been allowed to visit him twice since during his detention.

His wife Daniela Tajeda told BBC News her husband had been suffering anxiety and panic attacks while in prison and had even expressed suicidal thoughts.

Previously, in a joint statement, Durham and Exeter Universities said they were "deeply concerned" for Mr Hedges' welfare.

Reacting to the result of the case, Mr Hunt said in a statement: “I am deeply shocked and disappointed by the verdict today. I have personally raised the case of Matthew Hedges at the highest levels of the UAE government, including during my visit to Abu Dhabi on 12 November.

"On that occasion, I spoke to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed and Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed.

“However, today’s verdict is not what we expect from a friend and trusted partner of the United Kingdom and runs contrary to earlier assurances.

“Our consular officials have been in close contact with Matthew Hedges and his family. We will continue to do everything possible to support him.

"I have repeatedly made clear that the handling of this case by the UAE authorities will have repercussions for the relationship between our two countries, which has to be built on trust.

"I regret the fact that we have reached this position and I urge the UAE to reconsider.” </s> British academic Matthew Hedges has been sentenced to life in prison in the United Arab Emirates after he was accused of spying for the UK government.

The PhD student at Durham University had travelled to the Gulf state to research his thesis and interview sources about the country's foreign policy and security strategy, his family say.

He has 30 days to appeal after a Federal Appeals Court convicted him on charges of spying and sharing sensitive security and intelligence information to third parties.

Mr Hedges, 31, didn't have a lawyer when he was sentenced on Wednesday during a hearing that lasted less than five minutes, a spokeswoman for his family says.

The Brit, who has denied accusations that he was a spy posing as an academic researcher, was accompanied by his wife, Daniela Tejada, and diplomats from the British Embassy.

A family spokeswoman, Nikita Bernardi, told AFP after the hearing: "We can confirm that he was sentenced to life in prison. The hearing lasted less than five minutes, and his lawyer was not present."

Foreign Secretary Jremy Hunt said the UAE's handling of Mr Hedges' case will have repercussions for the relationship between the two countries.

He said the verdict is not what was expected from a "friend and trusted partner" and it runs contrary to earlier assurances.

A life sentence includes a maximum of 25 years in jail and is followed by deportation, the National reported.

Mr Hedges, who lives in Exeter, Devon, was also ordered to pay all legal fees, and his electronic devices and research have been confiscated.

His supporters have claimed his case was politically motivated and accused the UAE of abusing its judicial power and his human rights.

In a statement in Arabic, the court said: "The Federal Appeals Court of Abu Dhabi sentenced Matthew Hedges, 31, to life imprisonment after being convicted of spying on the UAE and providing sensitive security and intelligence information to third parties.

"The court also ruled that he would be deported from the country after the execution of the sentence and would be charged the costs of the legal case.

"The court ordered the confiscation of all his equipment, devices, research and studies.

"The convicted person has the right to challenge the ruling with the State Security Department of the Federal Supreme Court within a maximum period of 30 days."

Hamad Al Shamsi, the UAE's attorney general, had earlier dfended the case and said that Mr Hedges was referred to court based on legal evidence and findings from investigations that were carried out by the public prosecution, the Khaleej Times reported.

He added: "The investigations guaranteed the accused's legal rights in accordance with the UAE's constitution and legal system, and close monitoring of members from the British Embassy."

The attorney general claimed Mr Hedges' "confession statements" to investigators were "similar to the evidence and information taken from his electronic devices", the Khaleej Times reported.

He claimed Mr Hedges was treated fairly by the judicial system and humanely while he was held.

The Brit was detained at Dubai International Airport on May 5 after an Emirati man told police that Mr Hedges had been asking for sensitive information, UAE media reported.

He was held in solitary confinement for five months until he was released on bail in October. He was formally charged last month.

His passport was seized and he was ordered to remain in the UAE until Wednesday's court appearance in Abu Dhabi, the third since his arrest almost seven months ago.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Middle East minister Alistair Burt have both travelled to the UAE since Mr Hedges was detained to make representations on his behalf.

Before the life sentence was handed out, Ms Bernardi, the representative for Mr Hedges' family, said they did not know what to expect from the court appearance.

She said: "We have no indication as to what way it will go. We're trying to stay hopeful but we don't want to raise our hopes too much."

Mr Hedges, a specialist in Middle Eastern studies at Durham University, went to the UAE to research his PhD thesis.

At Mr Hedge's last hearing on October 24, his court-appointed lawyer maintained that he is innocent.

On October 29, Mr Hedges was released from detention and he has since been staying in Dubai with an ankle bracelet monitoring his movements.

After he was released on bail, Mr Hedges was in a good mood and was "still hoping for justice", his wife, Ms Tejada, told the BBC.

She said 600 scholars from around the world have supported an open letter demanding Mr Hedges' immediate release.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has previously said there are limits to what it can say publicly about the case because of the legal proceedings.

It said it was monitoring developments closely and staff were in close contact with Mr Hedges' wife Daniela, offering her support.

Mr Hedges has been working on his PhD at Durham since 2013.

He had previously completed a Master's degree in Middle East Studies at the University of Exeter. </s> In Egypt, a court sentenced 30 accused up to 25 years in prisons over terrorist charges and their affiliation with the Islamic State terror group.

The Cairo Criminal Court sentenced 18 defendants to 25 years, eight to 15 years and four others to 10 years for joining the terror outfit, possessing explosives and attempting to blow up a church in the seaside province of Alexandria.

The prosecution also charged the accused for targeting vital state institutions and receiving training with IS members in war-torn Syria and Libya. </s> The condemning of 15 people to death by the Specialized Criminal Court today after a grossly unfair trial is a travesty of justice and a serious violation of human rights, said Amnesty International.

The men were among 32 people arrested across Saudi Arabia in 2013 and 2014 who were accused of spying for Iran. Fifteen others were sentenced to prison terms ranging from six months to 25 years and two were acquitted.

The men were charged with a series of offences including “high treason” with some facing several other ludicrous charges which should not be considered criminal offences such as “supporting protests”, “spreading the Shi’a faith” and “possessing banned books and videos”.

“Sentencing 15 people to death after a farcical trial which flouted basic fair trial standards is a slap in the face for justice. Time and again, Saudi Arabia’s justice system has been proven to be incapable of ensuring fairness and justice,” said Samah Hadid, Deputy Director for Campaigns at Amnesty International’s Beirut regional office.

“The death penalty is cruel, inhuman and degrading in any circumstances but it is even more shocking when people are sentenced to death after blatantly unfair trials. These death sentences must be immediately quashed and the accused must either be re-tried in line with international standards without resorting to the death penalty, or released.”

Sentencing 15 people to death after a farcical trial which flouted basic fair trial standards is a slap in the face for justice Samah Hadid, Deputy Director for Campaigns at the Beirut Regional office

Those convicted were all Saudi Arabian nationals except for one Iranian national who was sentenced to four years in prison. An Afghan national was one of the two men acquitted.

According to Taha al-Hajji, one of the lawyers who represented most of the accused, all 32 men arrested were detained without an arrest warrant and held for almost three months in incommunicado detention where they were repeatedly interrogated without a lawyer, heightening the risk that they could face torture and other ill-treatment. In many cases they only discovered the reason for their arrest during their interrogations.

Some told the court that they were threatened with solitary confinement and that they would be banned from having any contact with their families if they did not sign “confession” documents. They said they were told that if they refused to sign these “confessions” that their families would be imprisoned and locked in cells next to them.

After almost three years in detention without charge or trial the defendants were suddenly brought before the Specialized Criminal Court in Riyadh -

Saudi Arabia’s secretive security and counter-terrorism court in February 2016. Most of them attended their first session without any lawyers and the rest met their lawyers briefly for the first time in court. Some of the defendants had to prepare their defence themselves.

“The entire legal proceedings in this case have made a mockery of justice. The fact that the men were held incommunicado for three months, denied access to a lawyer during the interrogations, and that the court failed to adequately investigate the men’s claims that they were coerced to ‘confess’ makes this little more than a sham trial,” said Samah Hadid.

The entire legal proceedings in this case have made a mockery of justice Samah Hadid, Deputy Director for Campaigns at the Beirut Regional office

While the General Prosecutor had almost three years to build the case against the 32 defendants, their lawyers were given less than a month to prepare their defence after the first hearing and were denied crucial information to enable them to prepare a proper case.

The lawyers complained saying they needed more time since it was a very complex case with 32 defendants involved, however, the request was ignored by the judge. They were initially denied access to court documents and key evidence relied upon for the convictions, including the forced “confessions” of the men.

During the first session in February 2016, the 32 defendants were handed a list of charges that was nearly 100 pages long. Most of the defendants were accused of offences such as “high treason” for either setting up or joining a spy cell or meeting with Iranian intelligence and sharing military and security information with them.

However, some of the other charges listed against the men are not recognizably criminal offences under international standards. These include “supporting protests”, “spreading the Shi’a faith” for example by setting up a Shi’a centre in Mecca, “possessing banned books and videos”, “inciting the public to break allegiance to the ruler and harm his reputation and the reputation of the royal family” among other charges.

One defendant, who is among those sentenced to death, even faced charges for possessing articles written by Mikhlif al-Shammari a prominent human rights defender and advocate for Saudi Arabia’s Shi’a Muslim community who was sentenced to prison and 200 lashes for his activism.

It is not the first time a Saudi Arabian court has issued death sentences after an unfair mass trial. On 1 June 2016, 14 Shi’a Muslim men were sentenced to death by the Specialized Criminal Court after a trial which relied on “confessions” extracted through torture for a series of offences including among other things, taking part in violent protests in the Eastern Provinces in 2012.

Trials before the Specialized Criminal Court are shrouded in secrecy. Given the opaque procedures at these courts, in some cases simply being brought to trial appears to be enough grounds for judges to find the accused guilty.

In a letter submitted to the Specialized Criminal Court at the second session several of the lawyers said they would boycott the trial in protest the manner in which the trial was being conducted including the fact that they were not allowed to visit their clients, view evidence and prepare their defence adequately. The lawyers also objected to the “media war” waged against the defendants. The Saudi Arabian authorities do not allow any critical or independent media to operate in the Kingdom. </s> A Belgian court on Friday convicted eight Emirati princesses fro human trafficking and given suspended jail terms in connection with treatment of servants at a Brussels luxury hotel nearly 10 years ago.

The women are from Abu Dhabi's ruling al-Nahyan family, given 15-month suspended sentences for human trafficking and degrading treatment, the lawyer, Stephen Monod, said.

He said the defence was pleased the case was finally resolved after nearly a decade, reports Reuters.

"Belgian justice has appropriately assessed this case which has generated many misconceptions," he said in a statement.

They were ordered to pay a fine of 165,000 euros ($184,000), with half the sum suspended, also, the defendants acquitted of the more serious charge of inhuman treatment.

The case was filed after a servant of the Emirati Royal family slipped out of the hotel and complained to Belgian police. </s> Eight Emirati princesses were convicted of human trafficking by a Belgian court on Friday and were given suspended jail terms and fines in a case stemming from their treatment of servants at a Brussels luxury hotel nearly 10 years ago, their lawyer said.

The Brussels criminal court handed the eight women from Abu Dhabi's ruling al-Nahyan family 15-month suspended sentences for human trafficking and degrading treatment, the lawyer, Stephen Monod, said.

He said the defence was pleased the case was finally resolved after nearly a decade. </s> BRUSSELS - Eight Emirati princesses were convicted of human trafficking by a Belgian court on Friday and were given suspended jail terms and fines in a case stemming from their treatment of servants at a Brussels luxury hotel nearly 10 years ago, their lawyer said.

The Brussels criminal court handed the eight women from Abu Dhabi's ruling al-Nahyan family 15-month suspended sentences for human trafficking and degrading treatment, the lawyer, Stephen Monod, said. He said the defense was pleased the case was finally resolved after nearly a decade.

"Belgian justice has appropriately assessed this case which has generated many misconceptions," he said in a statement. The defendants were acquitted of the more serious charge of inhuman treatment but also ordered to pay a fine of 165,000 euros ($184,000), with half the sum suspended.

The eight accused did not appear in court throughout the proceedings.

The case was brought after a servant of the family slipped out of the hotel where the women stayed for several months in 2007 and 2008 and complained to Belgian police.
The Abu Dhabi Federal Appeal Court jails two Egyptians and a Saudi for fifteen years each and fines them for promoting terrorist ideologies online. The court orders them deported after release, their computer equipment seized, and their social media presences deleted.