Sunday, Aug 02, 2015

Abu Dhabi: The Public Prosecution has referred 41 men of various nationalities, including Emiratis, to the Federal Supreme Court on charges of setting up a terrorist organisation, seeking to overthrow the Government to establish a Daesh-style ‘Caliphate State’, Salem Saeed Kubaish, UAE’s Attorney-General said today.

“The defendants were charged with setting up and running a terrorist organisation named Shabab Al Manarah, ‘The Minaret’s Youths’, which upholds terrorist thought with the intent to commit terrorist acts inside the country and endanger its security and peace and lives of its people, including their leaders,” Kubaish said in a statement carried by WAM.

Kubaish added that the suspects were also charged with intending to inflict damage on private and public properties to eventually take over authority to set up a so-called Caliphate State in line with their extremist thought.

“To carry out their terrorist acts, the suspects procured firearms, ammunition and explosives necessary, using funds they collected for this purpose and got in touch with foreign terrorist organisations and groups. These groups provided these suspects with funds and people to achieve their goals inside the country,” Kubaish said.

Convicted terrorists will face capital punishment, life imprisonment and fines of up to Dh100 million, according to a federal law endorsed last year to combat terrorism.

The law ushered in new security measures to counter a sweeping range of crimes deemed acts of terror at a time when international efforts are being mustered to fight the global menace.

The trial follows the launch of a centre to counter terrorist propaganda.

The Sawab Centre, launched last month by the UAE and the US, works to counter the Daesh group’s narrative by promoting tolerant voices from the region. It will increase the intensity of online debate by presenting moderate and tolerant voices from across the region and amplifying inclusive and constructive narratives.

Kubaish said the suspects set up an organisational structure including committees and cells with specific tasks. “A leader was appointed to oversee the terrorist organisation, issue orders, instructions, roles and duties for each committee. He was also assigned to set policies.” His deputy was assigned to follow up implementation of these policies, Kubaish said.

The Attorney-General added that these committees were assigned to recruit young Emiratis and instil extremist thought in them and train them on militancy and manufacture of explosives at certain camping sites.

The suspects, the Attorney-General said, also published audio and video materials on the internet to spread their terrorist propaganda.

A committee to be named The National Committee for Combating Terrorism will be established, and a decision towards its establishment will be made by the Cabinet.

“Whoever seeks or communicates with a foreign state, terrorist organisation or with anyone who works for their interests, to commit any terrorist act, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, while the death penalty will be imposed if the terrorist act has been carried out,” the law states.

By Samir Salama Associate Editor

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