This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/04/uae-trial-coup-plot
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| UAE trial of 94 accused of coup plot begins amid tight security | UAE trial of 94 accused of coup plot begins amid tight security |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Ninety-four people have gone on trial in the United Arab Emirates on charges of trying to overthrow the government, the latest in a growing crackdown in the Gulf state against perceived political or security threats inspired by the Arab spring uprisings. | Ninety-four people have gone on trial in the United Arab Emirates on charges of trying to overthrow the government, the latest in a growing crackdown in the Gulf state against perceived political or security threats inspired by the Arab spring uprisings. |
| About 200 relatives were bussed to the court in Abu Dhabi for the hearing on Monday amid tight security. The road leading to the court was closed and authorities barred international media and rights groups from attending. | About 200 relatives were bussed to the court in Abu Dhabi for the hearing on Monday amid tight security. The road leading to the court was closed and authorities barred international media and rights groups from attending. |
| The defendants – unnamed doctors, academics, lawyers and other professionals – have been accused of building a secret network to plot the coup and raising money through property and other deals. | The defendants – unnamed doctors, academics, lawyers and other professionals – have been accused of building a secret network to plot the coup and raising money through property and other deals. |
| The government said the 94 were suspected of links to the Muslim Brotherhood and other unnamed parties they allegedly contacted for expertise and financial support . The detained include men and women who were arrested over the past year. | The government said the 94 were suspected of links to the Muslim Brotherhood and other unnamed parties they allegedly contacted for expertise and financial support . The detained include men and women who were arrested over the past year. |
| They are believed to be part of a loosely knit Islamist network known as al-Islah or Reform, which advocates a greater public voice in UAE's tightly controlled affairs. | They are believed to be part of a loosely knit Islamist network known as al-Islah or Reform, which advocates a greater public voice in UAE's tightly controlled affairs. |
| Rights groups have criticised the crackdown and it has also raised tensions with Egypt, which is governed by the Brotherhood. In the Gulf federation, the arrests are seen as part of what appears to be growing intolerance for any criticism of the government or its leaders. | Rights groups have criticised the crackdown and it has also raised tensions with Egypt, which is governed by the Brotherhood. In the Gulf federation, the arrests are seen as part of what appears to be growing intolerance for any criticism of the government or its leaders. |
| Last year, the UAE set stricter internet-monitoring and enforcement codes that include giving authorities wider leeway to crack down on web activists for offences such as mocking the country's rulers or calling for demonstrations. Last week, a scholar from the London School of Economics was barred from entering the country, prompting the school to pull out of a planned conference. | Last year, the UAE set stricter internet-monitoring and enforcement codes that include giving authorities wider leeway to crack down on web activists for offences such as mocking the country's rulers or calling for demonstrations. Last week, a scholar from the London School of Economics was barred from entering the country, prompting the school to pull out of a planned conference. |
| Several relatives waiting to be bussed to the hearing said the charges were baseless and that they hoped justice would prevail either through the courts or by way of the country's rulers. | Several relatives waiting to be bussed to the hearing said the charges were baseless and that they hoped justice would prevail either through the courts or by way of the country's rulers. |
| They said their family members had no links to the Brotherhood and only wanted to see greater democracy in the country, including giving more powers to the Federal National Council, the largely toothless public advisory body. | They said their family members had no links to the Brotherhood and only wanted to see greater democracy in the country, including giving more powers to the Federal National Council, the largely toothless public advisory body. |
| "If anybody reads the accusations that are put in their file, they will surely observe these are only based on suspicions," said Khalid al-Roken, whose brother and nephew were among those on trial. "They were meeting in houses so that means they have secret organisations arranging for a coup? All people have gatherings in their houses. Where does that constitute a threat to the government?" | "If anybody reads the accusations that are put in their file, they will surely observe these are only based on suspicions," said Khalid al-Roken, whose brother and nephew were among those on trial. "They were meeting in houses so that means they have secret organisations arranging for a coup? All people have gatherings in their houses. Where does that constitute a threat to the government?" |
| Others questioned why it had taken the authorities several months to charge the suspects. They said their relatives were held at undisclosed locations, in solitary confinement and in tiny rooms with nothing more than mattress on the floor. | Others questioned why it had taken the authorities several months to charge the suspects. They said their relatives were held at undisclosed locations, in solitary confinement and in tiny rooms with nothing more than mattress on the floor. |
| "It's unfair. Until now, I have had no justice," said a man who identified himself only as Omar, fearing for his own security as his parents, an aunt and uncle were among the detainees. They were arrested in the neighbouring emirate of Ras al-Khaima seven-and-half months ago. | "It's unfair. Until now, I have had no justice," said a man who identified himself only as Omar, fearing for his own security as his parents, an aunt and uncle were among the detainees. They were arrested in the neighbouring emirate of Ras al-Khaima seven-and-half months ago. |
| "It's my father, my mother. I have little brothers. Who will take care of them?" he said. "I don't know when they made these accusations. I don't understand the law here." | "It's my father, my mother. I have little brothers. Who will take care of them?" he said. "I don't know when they made these accusations. I don't understand the law here." |
| There was no information from the authorities or in local media on the hearing. | There was no information from the authorities or in local media on the hearing. |
| About two dozen international lawyers and rights groups, including Amnesty International, had asked to attend the session but did not receive permission. Several reporters and activists were turned away by police before they reached the court and rebuffed when they tried to get answers from the ministry of justice. | About two dozen international lawyers and rights groups, including Amnesty International, had asked to attend the session but did not receive permission. Several reporters and activists were turned away by police before they reached the court and rebuffed when they tried to get answers from the ministry of justice. |
| "They are hindering any kind of observation by the public," said Ketil Lund, a former Norwegian supreme court justice who was part of an International Commission of Jurists delegation. | "They are hindering any kind of observation by the public," said Ketil Lund, a former Norwegian supreme court justice who was part of an International Commission of Jurists delegation. |
| "That raises concerns about the fairness of the trial," he said. "I think [the authorities] are afraid to have it open. They are afraid the trial and the treatment of the detainees are not according to international standards." | "That raises concerns about the fairness of the trial," he said. "I think [the authorities] are afraid to have it open. They are afraid the trial and the treatment of the detainees are not according to international standards." |
| Melanie Gingell, of the UK-based Gulf Centre For Human Rights, said the crackdown and trial were another indication of the Emirates abandoning its commitment to democracy and the Arab charter, which she said the UAE had signed, as well as to calls for free speech and freedom of association. | Melanie Gingell, of the UK-based Gulf Centre For Human Rights, said the crackdown and trial were another indication of the Emirates abandoning its commitment to democracy and the Arab charter, which she said the UAE had signed, as well as to calls for free speech and freedom of association. |
| "They have been taking small steps progressing towards democracy but in the last two years it seems they have been retracting greatly on that progress when you see an instance like this where international lawyers from the United Kingdom, Norway are turned away," she said. | "They have been taking small steps progressing towards democracy but in the last two years it seems they have been retracting greatly on that progress when you see an instance like this where international lawyers from the United Kingdom, Norway are turned away," she said. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |